Chordata

Sawan M.Mirkan
Chordata : 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.

Chordate have 3 subphyla

•Kingdom: Animalia

•Phylum: Chordata

subphylum: Urochordata

subphylum: Cephalochordata

subphylum: Vertibrata
1-Urochordata(Tunicata):
Notochord present only in larval tail.

Sea squirt (ascidia)

2-Cephalochordata
Notochord extend from head to tail region and
present through their life.
Morphological features of an adult amphioxus
3-Vertebrata

Possess notochord during the embryonic period.

While, in adult notochord was replaced by

cartilaginous or bony vertebral column.

Thus all vertebrates are chordates but, all

chordate not vertebrates.

have ventral muscular heart with 2, 3 or 4

chambers.
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Agnatha (jawless fishes)

Class Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes) jawless

Class Osteichthyes (bony fishes)

Class Amphibia (amphibians)

Class Reptilia (reptiles)

jawed
Class Aves (birds)

Class Mammalia (mammals)