THE CHORDATES

These are animals that are distinguished through the possession of a dorsal, longitudinally running,
semi-rigid rod (Notochord) either restricted to early development or present throughout life. The
notochord extends, in most cases, the length of the body and is ventral to the central nervous system. Its
primary purpose is to stiffen the body, providing skeletal scaffolding for the attachment of swimming
muscles.

In most chordates, the notochord is mainly replaced during the embryonic development by the bony
vertebrae of the vertebral column (backbone) or remains in its original form in the few remaining groups
of non-vertebrate chordates [Urochordates (tunicates) & Cephalochordates (lancelets)].

The five distinguishing features of chordates include:

1. Notochord – flexible, rod-like structure, extending the length of the body. It is the first part of the
endoskeleton to appear in the embryo.
2. Dorsal tubular Nerve Cord – a single hollow nerve cord that is dorsal to the alimentary canal.
Its anterior end becomes enlarged to form the brain in vertebrates. This hollow cord is produced in
the embryo by in-folding the ectodermal cells on the dorsal side of the body above the notochord.
3. Pharyngeal Pouches & Slits – these are openings that lead from the pharyngeal cavity to the
outside. They are formed by in-pocketing of the outside ectoderm (pharyngeal grooves) and
evagination (out-pocketing) of the endodermal lining of the pharynx (pharyngeal pouches). It
evolves as a as filter-feeding apparatus found in protochordates (Urochordates and
Cephalochordates).
In invertebrate chordates, fishes, and amphibian larvae, the pharyngeal pouches become
functioning gills (respiratory organs) of the aquatic vertebrates.
In humans, the
- First pair of pouches become auditory tubes
- Second pair of pouches become Tonsil
- Third & fourth pairs of pouches become the thymus glands and parathyroids.
4. Endostyle or Thyroid Gland – found only in all chordates. It is found on the pharyngeal floor
where it secretes mucus that traps small food particles brought into the pharyngeal cavity.
5. Post-anal Tail – the muscular tail that extends beyond the anus, especially in the embryo. It
provides motility for the forms that are free-swimming. Its efficiency is later increased in fish
with the addition of fins. It is evident in humans only as a vestige (the coccyx, a series of small
vertebrae at the end of the spinal column) but most other mammals have a waggly tail as adults.
Other features include:

6. Bilateral symmetry, a segmented body, 3 germ layers (triploblastic), and well-developed coelom.
7. Complete digestive system
8. Segmentation if present, is restricted to the outer body wall, head, and tail and not extending into
the coelom.

Classification of the Phylum Chordata

➢ Group A: Protochordata – all are marine, small, primitive, or lower chordates without a cranium,
jaws, vertebral column, and paired appendages.

Their main sub-phylum include:

1. Subphylum Urochordata (Uro - tail) – They are found in all seas from near shoreline to great
depths. Notochord and Nerve cord are present in the tail and are found only in their free-
swimming tadpole. Their adults are sac-like and covered with transparent tunic usually without
notochord, coelom, segmentation, and nephridia. These are subdivided into:
- Class Ascidiacea – Sessile tunicates
- Class Thaliacea – free-swimming tunicates
- Class Larvacea/Appendicularia – free-floating tunicates
2. Subphylum Cephalochordata – are slender, laterally compressed translucent animals of about 3-
7cm in length that inhabit the sandy bottoms of coastal waters around the world. Their notochord
and nerve cord persist throughout life along the entire length of the body.
- Class Leptocardii – fish-like, segmented with numerous slits, free-swimming and
burrowing e.g. Amphioxus – a typical chordate
➢ Group B: Craniata / Euchordata – These are large-sized, higher chordates or vertebrates with
distinct heads, vertebral columns, jaws, and brains protected by the cranium. It has a single
subphylum Vertebrata with two divisions Agnatha and Gnathostomata

• Division 1: Agnatha – Jawless fish-like vertebrates without paired limbs.

• Class Ostracoderm – extinct
• Class Cyclostomata – Body eel-like, long cylindrical with smooth skin without jaws and
lateral fins. Their mouth is rounded and suctorial and is mostly parasites and scavengers
e.g. Lampreys & hagfishes.
• Division 2: Gnathostomata – Jawed vertebrates with true jaws and paired limbed which can be
divided into 2 superclasses
- Superclass Pisces – All fishes and fish-like aquatic gnathostomes

- Superclass Tetrapoda – all four-footed terrestrial gnathostomes

Superclass Pisces: Pisces are aquatic, gill-breathing vertebrates that usually have fins and skin covered
with scales. Their Classes include:

1. Class Placodermi – Well-known extinct jaw fishes of the Devonian period. Placodermis are
armored with heavy, bony plates and had strong jaws e.g. Chinatius.
2. Class Chondrichthyes – Mostly marine fishes with an endoskeleton of cartilage instead of bone.
They have 5-7 gill slits on both sides of the pharynx but lack the gill cover (operculum). Their
body is covered with placoid (tooth-like) scales that project posteriorly. Their mouth and two
nostrils are ventral and their males have claspers e.g. Sharks, rays, and skates.
 3. Class Osteichthyes – Freshwater & marine bony fishes mostly ray-finned in which fan-shaped
fins are supported by thin, bony rays. Whereas, the lobe-finned fishes are few in number but are
important because lobed-fin fishes of the Devonian period are ancestral to amphibians. The skin
of these bony fishes is covered with various types of scales (Cycloid and Ctenoid) other than
placoid. They have operculum covering their gill slits and their males are without claspers e.g.
Labeo, Protopterys, and Tilapia.

Superclass Tetrapoda: These are land vertebrates with two pairs of pentadactyl limbs, cornified skin,
and lungs. They are divided into 4 classes namely

1. Class Amphibia – means on both sides concerning the fact that most amphibians return to the
water for reproduction. Therefore, their larva stage is usually aquatic and breathes by gills while
the adults are terrestrial and respires by lungs. They have moist glandular skin devoid of scales, 2
pairs of limbs, a nostril connected to the mouth cavity, and a 3-chambered heart. They are divided
into 3 orders:
a. Order Apoda (Gymnophiona or Caecilia) – Blind, limbless, worm-shaped amphibians
with scales on their body. They are also known as blind worms because their eyes are
covered by skin or bone e.g. Caecilians – they live in moist soil.
b. Order Urodela (Caudata) – Tailed amphibians with four equal-sized limbs and smooth
skin with poison glans e.g. Salamanders. They are found in leaf litter, in the soil, or
water.
c. Order Anura (Salientia) – limbed-tailless amphibian with front limbs elongated and
specialized for jumping. The head and trunk are fused and the tail is present only in the
larval stage e.g. Frogs and Toads. They live in or near fresh water.

2. Class Reptilia – These are terrestrial and aquatic tetrapods with dry skin covered by ectodermal
horny scales. They are the first class of organisms to adapt to life on land without being dependent
on external water for reproduction. They are cold-blooded animals found in most of the warmer
regions of the world and their body is divided into head, trunk, and tail. They are adapted
behaviorally to maintaining a warm body temperature by warming themselves in the sun, hence
can only maintain a constant temperature in line with their surroundings. They are oviparous and
their eggs are very yolky. The Class Reptilia is divided into 3 major sub-classes:
i. Subclass Anapsida – Contains only one living order Chelonia which is distinguished
by the two shell plates (Dorsal shell – Carapace and Ventral shell – Plastron). The
dermal bones form a complete roof over the skull with no temporal fossae. Their limbs
are clawed, webbed, and paddle-like e.g. Turtle & Tortoise.
ii. Subclass Parapsida – Extinct Protosaurs, Nothosaurs, and Placodonts.
 iii. Subclass Diapsida – They have two pairs of openings on the skull and are the most
diverse of the subclasses. They can be grouped into three orders namely:
a. Order Crocodilia (Loricata) – are the largest modern reptiles with skin covered by
bony plates and long. They are freshwater snout animals found on land and water.
Members of this order include Crocodiles, Alligators, and Gavialis.
b. Order Rhynchocephalia – Most of the species in this order are found in the form of
fossils. Only Sphenodon (tuatara Lizard) of New Zealand is living. Their dorsal
surface has a row of spines while the ventral surface is covered with rows of scales.
Their teeth are fixed to the edge of the jaws and there is a horny beak on the upper jaw.
c. Order Squamata – members of this order have their bodies covered with cutaneous
scales with a thin horny epidermis on it that is shed periodically. This act of casting skin
as found in snakes and lizards is called sloughing. In lizards, the skin comes off in
stripes while in snakes it comes off in one piece. This order consists of 3 suborders
namely: Sauria (Lacertilia), Amphisbaenia (Primitive worm Lizards), and Serpentes
(Ophidia)
- Suborder Sauria: These are diurnal quadrupeds whose limbs are turned well out
laterally while a few of them are limbless and snake-like. The body is slender and
covered with scales and the tail is typically long. They have movable eyelids and
there is evidence of an external ear except in burrowing forms. These reptiles can
shed the tail (caudal autotomy) as an effective defense when escaping from danger.
Members of this suborder include Agamas, Geckos, Skinks, and monitor lizards.
- Suborder Amphisbaenia: a group of usually legless squamates, comprising over
200 extant species. Amphisbaenians are characterized by their long bodies, the
reduction or loss of limbs, and rudimentary eyes. Since many of these species have
pink bodies and scales arranged in rings, they have a superficial resemblance to
earthworms.
- Suborder Serpentes: Their body is elongated, narrow, and cylindrical with the
ventral surface covered by a single row of broad scales. Their eyelids are
immovable and fused to form a transparent covering over the eyeball. Their
backbone and the entire head skeleton are flexible with the skull and jaw bones
loosely connected to permit the swallowing of prey several times their perimeter.
Members of this group are mainly snakes such as Cobra, Vipers, Krait, Boas,
and Pythons.

3. Class Aves – these are animals whose body is covered with feathers. Their forelimbs are modified
as wings usually adapted for flight while their hind limbs are for walking, perching, or swimming.
The body is usually spindle-shaped and can be divided into four sections – head, neck, trunk, and
tail. The ability to fly and maintain a constant body temperature as warm-blooded animals enable
them to occupy some habitats that are denied to other animals. They are also noted for distinctive
coloration and voices.
The classification of birds is based on their anatomical features thus, Class Aves comprises about
27 orders of living birds and a few fossil ones. About 22 of the living orders constitute the
Carinate (the flying birds) and the remaining Ratite (flightless birds). Hence, Class Aves has 2
Superorder:
i. Superorder Palaeognathae (flightless and toothless birds) – consist of 5 orders namely:
a. Order Struthioniformes – Ostrich of Africa
b. Order Rheiformes – Rhea of South America
c. Order Casuariiformes – Emu & Cassowary of Australia
d. Order Apterygiformes – Kiwi of New Zealand
e. Order Tinamiformes – Tinamous of Central and South America
ii. Superorder Neognathae – are modern flying or carinate birds with powerful sternum
muscles for flight. The 20 orders found in West Africa include:
a. Order Podicipediformes - swimming and diving freshwater African birds e.g. Grebe
b. Order Pelicaniformes – fish-eating birds e.g. garnets & cormorants
c. Order Ciconiiformes – long-beaked, -necked, and -legged birds e.g. Herons and Egrets
d. Order Anseriformes – short-legged with three webbed toes & broad flattened beaks
e.g. Swans, geese & ducks
e. Order Falconiformes – daylight hunters with powerful wings, strong hooked beaks
with sharp cutting edges, and short stout legs with sharp curved claws e.g. Vultures,
Eagles, and hawks.
f. Order Galliformes – Game birds that are largely ground-living with short wings and
beaks e.g. fowls, quails, guinea fowls, peacocks, and turkeys.
g. Order Strigiformes – nocturnal predators with the keenest eyes and ears e.g. Owls
h. Order Apodiformes – small birds that are excellent fliers with short legs and very
small weak feet e.g. hummingbirds.
i. Order Passeriformes – Perching/songbirds which are considered the most highly
evolved of bird types. The four toes are unwebbed with three forwardly directed and a
well-developed hind toe e.g. Sparrows
j. Order Coraciiformes –Mainly tropical and often brightly colored with the third and
fourth toes untied at their bases e.g. King fishes, bee-eaters & hornbills & rollers.