Module 1 Unit 1 Diversity of Chordates

UNIT 1 (BIO 211.1): INTRODUCTION TO CHORDATES

INTRODUCTION

Chordates are animals that belongs to phylumChordata; chordates possess a notochord, a hollow
dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, an endostyle, and a post-anal tail, for at least some period of
their life cycle. Chordates are deuterostomes, the anus forms before the mouth during the
embryo developmental stage. They are also bilaterally symmetriccoelomates with metameric
segmentation and a circulatory system. In the case of vertebrate chordates, the notochord is
usually replaced by a vertebral column during development.

Taxonomically, the phylum include the following subphyla: the Vertebrata, which includes fish,
amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals; the Tunicata, which includes salps and sea squirts;
and the Cephalochordata, which include the lancelets. Among the different phyla of Kingdom
Animalia, phylum Chordata is the most familiar one to us because it is the phylum to which
humans and their relative vertebrates belong to. In this unit we shall discuss the phylum
chordata.

OBJECTIVES

By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Describe the phylum Chordata

2. Explain the key features that differentiate the groups
3. Distinguishing between protochordates and chordates
4. identify members of the two groups

HOW TO STUDY THIS UNIT

1. Read through it once.

2. Then go back and study the unit step by step as presented.

3. Attempt all the activities and unit assignment given.

Note: Answers to all activities are at the end of each unit.

WORD STUDY

Some new words have been explained here for you. Try to look up for the meanings of other
words which are not familiar to you as you come across them. Note them and their meanings
down in a sheet of paper to aid your understanding:

1- Endostyle: A longitudinal ciliated groove on the ventral wall of the pharynx which produces
mucus to gather food particles, found in urochordates and cephalochordates and in the larvae
of lampreys.

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2- Deuterostomes: is a subtaxon of the Bilateria branch of the subkingdom Eumetazoa, within

Animalia, and are distinguished from protostomes by their deuterostomic embryonic
development; in deuterostomes, the first opening (the blastopore) becomes the anus, while in
protostomes, it becomes the mouth.

3- Coelomates: animals or Coelomata (also known as eucoelomates — "true coelom") have a

body cavity called a coelom with a complete lining called peritoneum derived from
mesoderm (one of the three primary tissue layers).

4- Cephalochordata: (or lancelets, traditionally known as amphioxus, plural amphioxi) is a

subphylum of marine invertebrates of the phylum Chordata. They are usually found in
shallow parts of temperate or tropical seas.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHORDATES

Phylum Chordata exhibits a distinguishable character from all other phyla viz. a notochord. All
chordates are characterized by four features at different stages of their life:

1. Notochord: It is a longitudinal, cartilaginous rod running between the nerve cord and the
digestive tract. It acts as a support for the nerve cord. In vertebrates, it is replaced by the
vertebral column after the embryonic stage.
2. Dorsal nerve cord: It is a bundle of nerves which runs along the “back” and splits into the
brain and the spinal cord.
3. Pharyngeal slits: They are the openings which allow the entry of water through the mouth
without entering the digestive system viz. they connect mouth and throat.
4. Post-anal tail: It is an extension of the body to the anus. In chordates, the tail is composed of
skeletal muscles which help in locomotion in fish-like species.

Other features of chordates include:

1. Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, coelomic and segmented body.

2. The body design is complex and well-differentiated.

3. The body has an organ system level of organization.

Watch the description of the phylum chordata: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-

mcc-biology2/chapter/video-chordates/
ACTIVITY I

Based on what you learnt so far, list the 4 major characteristics of the phylum chordata.

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Figure 1.1: Chordate Anatomy

(1. brain like blister, 2. notochord, 3. dorsal nerve cord, 4. post-anal tail, 5. anus, 6. food canal,
7. blood system, 8. abdominalporus, 9. overpharynx lacuna, 10. gill’s slit, 11. pharynx,
12. mouth lacuna, 13. mimosa, 14. mouth gap, 15. gonads (ovary/testicle), 16. light sensor,
17. nerves, 18. abdominal ply, 19. liver like sack).

CLASSIFICATION OF THE PHYLUM CHORDATA

Phylum Chordata:

Deuterostome coelomates; gill clefts; endostyle or its derivative in pharynx; notochord; hollow
dorsal nerve cord; tail posterior and dorsal to anus.

Subphylum Tunicata (or Urochordata; tunicates):

Notochord, when present, restricted to tail; body covered with tunic, but sometimes only cuticle;
atrium, absent in Appendicularia, dorsal and often paired in embryonic development; heart
present; generally sessile (attached) as adults e.g. Ascidia, Salpa, Doliolum.

Class Ascidiacea(sea squirts): these are Sessile, benthic, solitary or colonial organisms within a
common tunic.

Class Appendicularia(larvacea): these are Free-swimming; pelagic; resembles tadpole larvae of

ascidians; 1 pair of gill slits; no distinct atrium.

Class Thaliacea: these are Pelagic; forms aggregations or colonies.

Subphylum Cephalochordata (or Acrania; lancelets): Notochord extends entire body length,
with tip anterior to nerve cord; atrium a single cavity with single, ventral opening; segments well
developed; head poorly developed; no paired fins; no heart. Lancelets possess the notochord and
nerve cord throughout their life. However, they lack the brain and bony vertebral column e.g.
Branchiostoma.

Subphylum Vertebrata (or Craniata; vertebrates): Vertebrata includes humans and all other
animals which have vertebrates. The subphylum Vertebrata is characterized by the cartilaginous
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or bony backbone (vertebral column). The notochord is present only in the embryonic stage and
on maturity, it is replaced by the vertebral column. This is why it is said that ‘all vertebrates are
chordates but all chordates are not vertebrates’. In addition to this, vertebrates have a muscular
heart located ventrally, kidneys, appendages (as fins/limbs), etc.

The subphylum Urochordata and Cephalochordata are collectively known as protochordates,

which are marine animals. They are invertebrates but they share attributes of chordates.

Figure 1.2: Ascidia &Salpa (Subphylum Tunicata)

Figure 1.3: Branchiostoma (Subphylum Cephalochordata)

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Figure 1.4: Turtle, Fish, Lizard and Crocodile (Subphylum Vertebrata)

Subphylum Vertebrata is further classified into seven classes. They are:

1. Cyclostomata

2. Chondrichthyes

3. Osteichthyes

4. Amphibia

5. Reptilia

6. Aves

7. Mammalia

Watch the classification of the phylum Chordata:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq_9N3fFzPA,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iwOPEGVHVY,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT5iR32Sq90

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PROTOCHORDATES AND CHORDATES

The main difference between chordates and protochordates is that the chordates are the animals
that have distinct characteristics such as a notochord, dorsal nerve chord, pharyngeal slits, and a
muscular tail whle the protochordates are an informal group of invertebrates within chordates.
Furthermore, the three subphyla of chordates are Vertebrata, Urochordata, and

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Cephalochordatawhileprotochordates consist of both Urochordata and Cephalochordata.

Chordates and protochordates represent animals with a higher organization within the kingdom
Animalia.

Table 1.1: Contrasting Characteristics BetweenProtochordata and Chordata

S/N Protochordates Chordates

1 Exclusive marine, small sized Aquatic or terrestrial, mostly large sized

2 Appendages, head and exoskeleton absent Usually 2 pairs of appendages, well

developed head and exoskeleton present

3 Coelom enterocoelic, arising from Coelom schizocoelic, arising by splitting

embryonic archentron mesoderm

4 Notochord persistent, skull, cranium and Notochord covered or replaced by vertebral

vertebral column absent column, skull and cranium well developed

5 Pharynx having permanent gill-slit or gill- Pharynx gill-slits or gill-clefts persist or

clefts, endostyle present disappear, endostyle absent

6 Heart without chambers when present, red Heart made of 2,3 or 4 chambers, blood
blood corpuscles (RBCs) absent in blood contain RBCs

7 Kidneys protonephridia Kidneys meso or meta-nephridia

8 Sexes separate or united, reproduction Sexes separate, reproduction only sexual and
asexual as well as sexual and gonoducts gonoducts always present
usually absent

9 Development indirect with a free Development direct or indirect, with or

swimming larval stage without larval stage

ACTIVITY II

Based on what you learnt so far, carryout the following activities:

1. Identify the common features shared by both protochordates and chordates.

2. Explain 5 distinguishing characters between protochordates and chordates

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SUMMARY

In this unit we discussed the phylum chordate, thus:

►Animals with a notochord, dorsal, hollow, nerve cord, pharyngeal gill slits, and a post-anal
tail.

►which include vertebrates, cephalochordates, and urochordates.

► Protochordates are an informal group made up of cephalochordates and urochordates.

►Those that do not have a vertebral column like vertebrates.

►The main difference between chordates and protochordates is the presence of a vertebral
column.

ASSIGNMENT

Discuss in detail the origin of chordates.

REFERENCES

Janvier, P. (2003).Vertebrate characters and the Cambria Vertebrates. Comptes Rendus

Palevol,2(6-7): 523-531.

Nelson, J. S. (1994). Fishes of the World, 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons.