INTRODUCTION TO CHORDATA

- Five (5) General Characteristics of Chordates

o NOTE: Not all will be present in every chordate at the same time. (e.g., some
may be present in larvae stages, others may be apparent during adulthood)
o NOTE: Some chordates may have some of these modified.
1. Notochord
- A cartilaginous skeletal rod that the chordate uses for structural support of
the body (e.g., humans – modified into intervertebral discs found between
each individual bone of the vertebral column)
2. Pharyngeal Slits
- Openings that lead to the pharynx (in primitive chordates, these are for
filter feeding) (e.g., humans – only exists during the embryonic stage but
eventually closes off)
3. Dorsal Nerve Cord
- Performs the function of a nervous system which develops into the central
nervous system for some
4. Postanal Tail
- Tail found beyond the anus
5. Endostyle
- Structure that produces mucous
- This mucous secretion helps with feeding and gathering of food (e.g.,
humans – like many chordates, it develops into a thyroid (or something
that resembles such))
TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION OF PHYLUM CHORDATA
- Phylum Chordata (Three (3) Major Subphylum)
1. Subphylum Urochordata
o “Tunicates” - also known as sea squirts
o 5 chordate characteristics (all are present in larvae,
pharyngeal slits and endostyle only present in adults)
o Purely marine
2. Subphylum Cephalochordata
o All five (5) characteristics are present all
throughout their life cycle.
o Common name: Lancelets (also known
as Amphioxns)
3. Subphylum Vertebrata
o NOTE: All vertebrates are chordates but not all chordates are vertebrates.
o Mostly with vertebral column replacing the notochord (not completely lost and
may be modified)
o Also called “Craniata” since all of them have a cranium (or a true skull)
o Skin is separable from the muscles.
o Presence of Liver and Pancreas as separate organs
TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION OF SUBPHYLUM VERTEBRATA
1. Superclass (?) or Infraphylum (?) Agnatha (WITHOUT JAWS)
o Jawless fishes
 o Major Groups:
- Superclass (?) Ostracoderms/Ostracodermi (EXTINCT)
- Superclass (?) Cyclostomes/Cyclostomata (EXTANT)
1. Class Myxinoidea/Myxini (Hagfishes)
2. Class Petromyzontidae/Hyperoartia (Lampreys)
2. Infraphylum Gnathostomata (WITH JAWS)
o Jawed Chordates
o Major Groups:
- Placoderms
- Extant Forms:
1. Class Chondrichthyes
o Cartilaginous Fishes due to cartilaginous skeleton
o Major Groups:
- Subclass Elasmobranchii
1. Superorder Selachimorpha (e.g., sharks)
2. Superorder Batoidea (e.g., manta rays,
stingrays, and skates)
- Subclass Holocephali
1. Includes Chimaera and Ratfishes
2. Not much is really known about this
subclass
2. Class Actinopterygii
o Group of Bony Fishes
o Extremely common in all aquatic habitats (e.g., Tilapia,
Bangus, Goldfish)
o Distinguished by bony rays on
its fins due to the presence of
lepidotrichia
o Presence of Swim Bladders
(chambers that contain gases for buoyancy)
o “Osteichthyes” (outdated term for bony fishes)
3. Class (?) or Superclass (?) Sarcopterygii
o Another Group of Bony “Fishes” (NOTE: Cannot be
generally classified as fishes since TETRAPODS descent
from Sarcopterygii “cladistically” based on evolution)
o Bony with Lobed Fins
o Major Groups:
- Order (?) or Subclass (?) Actinistia
- Coelacanths (thought to be long extinct)
- Order (?) or Subclass (?) Dipnoi/Dipnoans
- Lungfishes
- Superclass (?) Tetrapoda
TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION OF SUPERCLASS (?) TETRAPODA
- Some Sarcopterygians gradually evolve into modern Tetrapods (aquatic lifestyle to
“somewhat” Terrestrial lifestyle)
 o Either tetrapod-like fishes or fishlike Tetrapods (Transitional Forms)
- Eusthenopteron (385 mya)
- Panderichthys (380 mya)
- Tiktaalik roseae (discovered
past 2000s) – missing link
between fishes and
Tetrapods
- Acanthostega
- Icthyostega (365 mya)
- Major Groups:
o Class Amphibia
- Transitional from water to land
- Juveniles aquatic, adults semi-aquatic
- Undergoes metamorphosis
- Cutaneous respiration (breathe through skins)
- Major Groups/Orders:
1. Order Anura/Salientia (Frogs/Toads) – no tails
2. Order Caudata (Newts/Salamanders)
3. Order Gymnophiona (Caecilians) – limbless amphibians
- Appeared: Devonian, Modern Groups in Jurassic
o Amniote Groups
- Presence of the three (3)
extraembryonic membrane s
during embryonic
development (Amnion,
Allantois, Chorion)
- Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals
o Class Reptilia
- Former Classifications:
1. Anapsida
o No holes at the
back of the orbit
(eye socket)
2. Euryapsida
o 1 upper temporal
fenestral
3. Diapsida
o 1 upper and 1
lower temporal
fenestral
4. Synapsida
o 1 lower temporal fenestral
- Major Groups (Extant):
1. (1) Testudines (Anapsida)
o Turtles/Tortoises
 2. Euryapsida (Extinct)
o To be reclassified under Diapsida (?)
o Examples: Icthyopterygia, Sauropterygia
3. (2) Archosauria (Diapsida)
o Squamata (Lizards and Snakes)
o Rhynchocephalia (Tuatara – only extant species)
4. (3) Lepidosauria (Diapsida)
o Pterosaurs and other dinosaurs (Extinct)
o Crocodilia
- Examples: Crocodiles, Alligators, Caimans,
Gharials (Gavials)
o Aves (Modern Birds)
- Also known as “Avialae”
- Modifications for flight
- Endothermic (ability to regulate own body
temperature)
o Class Mammalia
- Evolved from Synapsida (which was recently reclassified since NOT all
are reptiles)
- Presence of Mammary Glands (to produce milk) and Hair (made of
keratin)
- Presence of Three Ear Bones (Incus, Malleus, and Stapes)
- Mastication (ability to chew their food due to the presence of cheeks)
- Major Groups:
1. Eutheria (Placentals) – give birth to live young
o Examples: Mice, Dogs, Carnivorans, Seals, Bats
2. Prototheria (Monotremes) – ability to lay eggs
o Examples: Duck-billed Platypus, Echidnas
3. Metatheria (Marsupials) – presence of pouch
o Examples: Kangaroos, Wallabies, Koalas, Wombats