Chordata: origins and body plan

Basic Chordate Body Plan Basic Chordate Body Plan

4 major features of Chordata 4 major features of Chordata
These are synapomorphies for chordates

dorsal hollow nerve dorsal hollow nerve

notochord notochord

pharyngeal slits post-anal tail pharyngeal slits post-anal tail

 Urochordata: tunicates

Urochordates show chordate characters in the larva

Urochordate Larvae
1. Notochord
2. Dorsal hollow nerve
3. Pharyngeal slits

very young larva

late larval
stage
 Cephalochordata:
lancelets
dorsal hollow nerve
notochord

many pharyngeal slits

Cephalochordata
tail cross-section

dorsal hollow nerve

notochord
 Hemichordate

Hemichordata

1. Pharyngeal slits
2. Dorsal hollow nerve, notochord
3. Postanal tail, neural crest cells, vertebrae

3.

2.

1.
Major Groups of chordates we will visit in coming lectures Trends in early Chordate & Vertebrate Evolution

1. Increased cephalization
2. Increased activity levels
3. Increased tendency toward predatory life-style

Lamprey Larval Lamprey

 Vertebrate Body Plan
Vertebrate Body Plan

1. Notochord
2. Dorsal hollow nerve, brain, eyes
3. Paired kidneys
4. Pharyngeal slits
5. Heart, aortic arches, dorsal aorta
6. Segmented body organization

Lamprey: bloodsucking basal vertebrate!!

-No bone, no jaws

-Has pharyngeal
slits, notochord,
dorsal hollow nerve,
post-anal tail

Hagfishes:
scavengers on dead
animal carcasses

-No bone, no jaws

-Has pharyngeal slits, notochord,
dorsal hollow nerve, post-anal
tail