10 Facts about Chordates
Facts about Chordates tell the readers about the animals included in phylum Chordata. The physical characteristics of Chordates are noticed on the presence of a post-anal tail, pharyngeal slits a notochord, an endostyle and a hollow dorsal nerve cord. The anus of chordates will be formed before the mouth. Therefore, it is included as deuterostomes. Check other impressive facts about chordates by reading the following post below:
Facts about Chordates 1: notochord
During the development, a vertebral column will be replaced by a notochord in vertebrate chordates.
Facts about Chordates 2: phylum Chordata
The members of phylum Chordata include amphibians, mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. All of them are included in subphyla Vertebrata. Lancelets are included in cephalochordata, while sea squirts are included in Tunicata.
Facts about Chordates 3: the living species
The number of living species of chordates includes more than 65,000. Osteichthyes accounts almost half of the living species. They are the bony fish.
Facts about Chordates 4: the fastest and largest animals in the world
Do you know that peregrine falcon is the fastest animal in the world, while blue whale is the largest animal in the world? Both of them are included as chordates.
Facts about Chordates 5: the fossil of chordates
The fossil of chordates was traced back during the Cambrian explosion.
Facts about Chordates 6: Hemichordata
The fourth chordate subphylum is represented by the Hemichordata. The member includes the acorn worms. In the modern day, it is excluded in the subphylum.
Facts about Chordates 7: Ambulacraria
Ambulacraria is considered as the sister taxon of Chordates. Hemichordata is included as a part of Ambulacraria along with Echinodermata. The latter one includes crinoids, sea cucumbers, sea urchins and starfish. Get facts about eastern box turtles here.
Facts about Chordates 8: the name
William Bateson coined the name chordata in 1885. However, the term was already used in 1880. There will be stages of life found in chordate. The spinal cord of chordata features a dorsal neural tube. The trunk of nervous system communicates due to the presence of this tube.
Facts about Chordates 9: the post-anal tail
The post-anal tail is located behind the anus. It extends backward. Get facts about echidnas here.
Facts about Chordates 10: notochord
Notochord is developed in the spine in most sub-groups of chordates. It can be found inside the body. Other important features of chordates include an endostyle and pharyngeal slits. The former one is employed to collect food particles in filter-feeding species.
Are you interested reading facts about chordates?