chordates

1. CHORDATES

2. PHYLUM CHORDATA
• THEY HAVE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE PRESENT IN
ANY OF THE STAGES IN THEIR LIFE CYCLE:
– NOTOCHORD – BECOMES THE BACKBONE
– DORSAL HOLLOW NERVE CORD
– GILL SLITS
– POST-ANAL TAIL
• HUMANS BEING THE MEMBER OF THE CHORDATE GROUP
HAVE THE NOTOCHORD, TAIL AND GILL SLITS ONLY IN THE
EMBRYO STAGE

3. HUMAN EMBRYO

4. TUNICATES

5. •THE ADULT TUNICATES HAVE ONLY THE
GILL SLITS PRESENT BUT THE LARVA
STAGES HAVE ALL THE FOUR FEATURES
•THEY ATTACH TO SOLID MATERIALS LIKE
ROCKS AND CORAL REEFS
•THEY ARE FILTER FEEDERS, TAKING IN
FOOD PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN WATER

6. LANCELETS

7. •LANCELETS HAVE THE FOUR CHORDATE
CHARACTERISTICS PRESENT IN THE ADULT
STAGE
•THEY LIVE IN THE SANDY OCEAN BOTTOM
•THEY ARE ALSO SUSPENSION FEEDERS
•THEY MOVE IN A FISHLIKE MOTION USING THE
MUSCLES ON BOTH SIDES OF THEIR BODY