Introduction to Chordates

By Dr. Rahul Ranjan

Phylum Chordata
"From the mysterious depths of the ocean to the soaring heights of the sky, chordates
dance to the rhythm of adaptation and survival."
Chordates exhibit a wide range of body the notochord (Gr. noton= back, L. chorda=
plans and lifestyles, from simple cord) which is found in all the members of
filter-feeding sea squirts to complex and the phylum at some stage of their lives. The
highly mobile vertebrates like fish, reptiles, Phylum chordata was created by Balfour in
birds, and mammals. 1880 and it is divided into three subphyla:
The name of Phylum chordata is Urochordata or Tunicata, Cephalochordata
derived from two Greek words, the chorde and Vertebrata. Subphyla Urochordata and
(=a string or cord) and ata (= bearing). The Cephalochordata are often referred to as
common characteristic feature of the phylum protochordates. So, the Phylum Chordata
Chordata is the presence of a stiff, includes primarily Protochordata (Acraniata)
supporting rod like structure along the back, and Vertebrata (Craniata).
Position of Chordates in kingdom Animalia:

*Echinodermata exhibits radial or bilateral symmetry depending on the stage.

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SRAP College, Bara Chakia
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Fundamental characters of Chordata: sheath on the inside and an outside fibrous

Chordates are characterized by several layer (Fig. 1.2). It functions as a stiff axis

general features that distinguish them from and a rudimentary internal skeleton while

other animal phyla. These characteristics are allowing for bodily movement. It may

present at some point in the life cycle of the remain in situ all through life, as in the case

organism and define the phylum Chordata. of lancelets, lampreys, and certain fish, or it

The following are these basic morphological may be totally or partially replaced by a

traits are as follows: vertebral column or backbone.

● Notochord (a longitudinal supporting 2. Dorsal tubular nerve cord: The dorsal,

rod-like structure) hollow or tubular, fluid-filled nerve cord of

● Dorsal tubular (hollow) nerve cord chordates is located just above the body's

● Pharyngeal gill-slits. antero-posterior axis (Fig. 1.2). The nerve

These three distinctive characteristics are cord is formed by an infolding of mid-dorsal

unique for the phylum Chordata (Fig. 1.1). strip of neural ectoderm and encloses a

The existence of such common cavity or canal, the neurocoel. The nerve

characteristics is considered as a result of cord extends lengthwise across the body,

inheritance from a common ancestry. situated outside the coelom and above the

1. Notochord or chords dorsalis. The notochord. In chordates, the tubular nerve

notochord is a rod-like. elongated. elastic cord remains constant throughout life. In

structure situated just above the alimentary vertebrates, the anterior region of nerve cord

canal and immediately beneath the dorsal becomes specialized to form a cerebral

tubular nerve cord. It is made up of big, vesicle or brain which is enclosed in a

vacuolated notochordal cells that are protective cartilaginous or bony cranium.

encased in an elastic connective tissue The posterior part of nerve cord transforms

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SRAP College, Bara Chakia
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into spinal cord which is protected within branchial-pouches. Such gill-clefts appear

the neural canal of the vertebral column. during the development of every chordate,

3. Pharyngeal gill-slits. Gill-slits are paired but in many aquatic forms they are lined

openings leading from the pharynx to the with vascular lamellae which form gills for

exterior. In all the chordates, at some stage respiration. In terrestrial chordates which

of their life history, a series of paired never breathe by gills, traces of gill-clefts

internal gill-slits or gill-clefts perforate are present during early development but

through the pharyngeal wall of the gut disappear later in adults. In many animals

behind the mouth. equipped with lungs, branchial-clefts, or

The gill-slits have many alternative names, branchial-grooves are always found in the

such as gill-clefts, pharyngeal or embryo.

branchial-clefts, visceral-clefts, visceral or

The above three common characters appear Branchiostoma). Only one of these three

during early embryonic life of all the primary characters of chordates is found in

chordates. But all the above three characters the adults of most of them, this is the dorsal

rarely persist in the adult (e.g., tubular nerve cord, even this has its hollow

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SRAP College, Bara Chakia
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lumen greatly reduced in some, and in primary characters are possessed only by

Urochordata the central nervous system chordates. These characters distinguish

degenerates in the adult. The other two chordates from all other animals and appear

characters completely disappear in the adults to reveal their common ancestry.

of most chordates. However, the three

General characters of phylum chordata:

1. Chordates are aquatic, aerial or terrestrial. 3. A postanal tail usually projects beyond

All are free-living with no fully parasitic the anus at some stage of life and may or

forms. may not persist in the adult.

2. Body small to large, bilaterally 4. Exoskeleton often present;

symmetrical and metamerically segmented. well-developed in most vertebrates.

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SRAP College, Bara Chakia
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5. Body wall triploblastic, i.e., presence of 10. Digestive system is complete with
three germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and
digestive glands.
endoderm.
11. Blood vascular system is closed. Heart
6. Coelomate animals, i.e., a well developed
true coelom is always present which is ventral with dorsal and ventral blood
enterocoelic or schizocoelic in origin.
vessels. Hepatic portal system is present
7. Notochord is always essentially present at
which is well developed.
some stage of life cycle. It is completely or
partly replaced by the vertebral column in 12. Excretory system comprising proto-or
the majority of animals.
meso-or metanephric kidneys.
8. A cartilaginous or bony, living and jointed
13. Nerve cord is dorsal and tubular.
endoskeleton present in the majority of
members (vertebrates). Anterior end is usually enlarged to form the
9. Paired pharyngeal gill-slits are present on
brain.
either side of the pharynx at some stage of
14. Sexes separate with rare exceptions.
life, may or may not be functional.

Statistics of chordates diversity:

(Catalogue of life accessed on 01.02.2024)

B.Sc. Zoology, sem-ii (MJC-2)
SRAP College, Bara Chakia
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