This phylum is likely the most remarkable phylum, as it falls under this phylum all human beings and other animals and birds you know. The most distinctive character all animals belonging to this phylum have is notochord presence.Chordata is a familiar phylum comprising organisms such as mammals, fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians (all vertebrates) ; marine squirts (tunicates) ; and lancelets (cephalochordates). At some point in their development, all chordates have a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, and pharyngeal slits.