Fundamental Characters of Chordates

1. INRODUCTION TO CHORDATES
Miss.Afreen Fatema R.K (M.Sc, B.Ed)

2. What are chordates?
• The term is derived from the Greek words “Chorde” means String or
Rod & “ata” means bearing.
• Because of the presence of “notochord” (Gr.,Noton=Back , L
.,Chorda=Cord)
• Therefore chordates are the animals having a cord , i.e., notochord.
• Largest & important phylum comprising a vast variety of living &
extinct animals including man himself.
• e.g., familiar vertebrate animals … , besides, include a number of
marine forms such as…

3. Salient
Features
Presence of dorsal Notochord.
Presence of dorsal Nerve cord.
Presence of Pharyngeal gill slits.
Presence of Post anal tail.