Phylum Chordata

What is a Phylum Chordata?

A chordate is an animal that has a noctocord, a nerve cord, a tail, and pharyngal structures at some point in the animal's life. A noctocord is a flexible, rod-shaped structure that supports the body of a developing chordate.

What distinguishes vertebrates from other chordates?

Vertebrates have backbones, along with a nerve cord and a spinal cord. They also have well-delvoped organ systems. All vertebrates have digestive systems with two openings, circulatory systems that move blood through the body, and nervous systems that include brains.

5 Major Groups of Vertebrates

Black and White Koi Butterfly Fish

- Gills used for respiration

- Two chambered heart

- Ectothermic, which means cold-blooded

Lilac-Breasted Roller

- Endothermic, which means warm-blooded

- They have feathers

- They lay eggs with hard, waterproof shells. The parent birds incubate the eggs. One the egg hatchs, the parent cares for the young

Poision Dart Frog

- Are ectothermic, which means cold-blooded

-Go through metamorphosis, amphibians hatch from eggs, but the offspring do not look like their parents. As they develop, their body changes shape

- Breathe through their skin

Red Fox

- Endothermic , which means warm-blooded

- They produce milk to feed their babies. Doing this lets them spend more time with their young and teach them important skills so when they grow up they can survive on their own

- Have hair on their bodies

Atheris Hispida

- Ectothermic, which means warm-blooded

- Have lungs for breathing

- Are covered with scales