Question

What are some examples of organisms in the phylum Chordata?

Answer 1

Phylum Chordata:

1. Phylum Chordata consists of animals that have a backbone known as vertebrates and two groups of invertebrates called tunicates and lancelets.
2. Examples of vertebrates are mammals, amphibians, reptiles, etc. An example of tunicates is Clavelina moluccensis and lancelet is Branchiostoma lanceolatum

Characteristics of the Phylum Chordata:

1. Most vertebrates have a notochord, a stiff but flexible rod of cells and connective tissue that gives support during the embryo stage. It gets replaced by the bony and segmented vertebrae. Tunicates and lancelets retain the notochord but it does not develop into the spinal cord.
2. Pharyngeal slits are present in tunicates for filtering food from water and in fish, it is used for respiration. In humans, pharyngeal clefts are present.
3. All chordates have a dorsal hollow nerve tube from where the nerve tissue emanates and enters the muscles and different organs.
4. A post-anal tail is present in all chordates except humans wherein it is reduced to the tail bone.