CHORDATES

Concepts
Chordates: Lancelets are nonvertebrate
chordates w/ 4 chordate characteristics
as adults: 1. notochord
2. a dorsal tubular nerve cord
3. pharyngeal pouches
4. postanal tail
Vertebrates:
-Notochord is replaced by vertebral column
-have head region
-An endoskeleton
-paired appendages

 Fishes
3 groups:
1. jawless (hag fishes and lampreys)
2. cartilaginous (sharks and rays)
3. bony (ray-finned and lobed-finned)
Most modern-day fishes are ray-finned e.g. trout
and perch

 Amphibians (e.g. frogs and salamanders)

evolved from lobed-finned fishes.
Modern-day reptiles( e.g. turtles, lizards,
and snakes) are the remnants of an
ancient group that evolved from
amphibians.
The shelled egg reptiles, which contains
extraembryonic membranes, is an
adaptation for reproduction on land.

 There is a close evolutionary relationship

between birds and reptiles. However, birds
maintain a constant body temperature.
Birds have feathers and skeletal
adaptations that enable them to fly.
Mammals, which evolved from reptiles,
were present when dinosaurs existed.
They did not diversify until the dinosaurs
became extinct.

 Mammals are vertebrates with hair and

mammary glands. Hair helps them
maintain a constant body temperature.
Mammals are classified according to
methods of reproduction:
Monotremes lay eggs
Marsupials have a pouch into which the
newborn crawls and develops further
Placental mammals retain offspring in a
uterus until birth

 Phylum Chordata
Consists of 45,000 species of animals
Represent less than 5% of the total
number of species alive today
e.g. familiar animals:
Sharks, goldfish, toads, turtles, sparrows,
antelopes and humans

 The 4 basic characteristics of a

chordate;
1.
2.
3.
4.

Notochord
Nerve cord
Pharyngeal pouch
postanaltail

 1. Notochord
-a dorsal supporting rod
- Located below the nerve chord
The majority of vertebrates have an
embryonic notochord that is replaced by
the vertebral column during
development

2. A dorsal tubular nerve cord

-the anterior portion becomes the brain
in most chordates. In vertebrates, the
nerve cord, often called the spinal cord,
is protected by vertebrae.

 3. Pharyngeal pouches
These are only seen during embryonic
development in most vertebrates
In nonvertebrate chordates, fishes, and
amphibian larvae, the pharyngeal pouches
become functioning gills (respiratory organs
of aquatic vertebrates)
[Water --- passing into the mouth & pharynx--gill slits(supported by arches)
Terrestrial vertebrates-pouches are modified
for various purposes
In humans-the 1st pair of pouches become
auditory tubes. The 2nd pair become tonsils.
The 3rd/4th pairs become the thymus and
parathyroid glands.

 4. Postanal tail
A tail in the embryo if not in the adult
extends beyond anus

 Nonvertebrate Chordates:
The notochord persists in the adult form and is
never replaced by the vertebral column
2 subphyla of lower chordates
1. subphylum Cephalochordata-[25
species]Lancelets
2. subphylum Urochordata- [2,000 species]sea
squirts
e.g. lancelets [Genus Branchiostoma]
Amphioxusformer genus now used as common
name
The nonvertebrate chordates include1.the lancelets -found in shallow water along most
coast, sandy,muddy substrates w/ anterior mouth
and gill apparatus exposed, have segmented
muscles [feed:microscopic particles---mouth---gill
slits---atrium that opens at the atripore

Cephalochordata
Lancelet

 sea squirts- ocean floor. tunicates-tunic that

look like thick-walled, squat sacs [ The larva is
bilaterally symmetrical & has 4 chordate
charateristics].Metamorphosis produces the
sessile adult w/ incurrent and excurrent siphon

Urochordate
Tunicate

Vertebrates
Features of vertebrates
Living endoskeleton with vertebral
column
Closed circulatory system
Paired appendages
Efficient respiration and excretion
High degree of cephalization
[vertebrates are adapted for an active
lifestyle

Osteichthyans
Ray-Finned Fishes and LobeFins

LobeFins

Fishes
Characteristics:
Equatic ectotherms
Skin covered with scales
Fins for swimming
Single-loop cardiovascular pathway
Breathe with gills
Lay eggs

Amphibians
Features:
Usually tetrapods
Usually lungs in adult
Metamorphosis
Smooth and moist skin
Three-chambered heart
Ectothermy
Most lay eggs in water

Reptiles
Features:
Usually tetrapods
Lungs with expandable rib cage
Leathery-shelled amniotic egg
Dry-scaly skin
endothermy

Birds
Features:
Feathers
Hard-shelled amniotic egg
Four-chambered heart
Usually wings for flying
Air sacs
endothermy

p720

Monotremes

Marsupials

Eutherians (Placental Mammals)

Eutherians are commonly called

placental mammals because
their placentas are more complex than
those of marsupials.
Eutherians have a longer pregnancy
than marsupials. Young
eutherians complete their embryonic
development within the
uterus, joined to their mother by the
placenta. The eutherian
placenta provides an intimate and
long-lasting association bern'een
the mother and her developing young.

Mammals

Features:
Body hair
Differentiated teeth
Well-developed brain
Usually live births and newborn
dependency
Mammary glands
Endothermy
Internal development