Chordates Notes
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Transcript Chordates Notes
An Introduction to
Vertebrate Animals
Introduction
Chordates (vertebrates) are the group of
animals most familiar to us
Ex: mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish
Name comes from: Notochord “Back” “Cord”
Def: a skeletal rod made of body of cells enclosed
by a fibrous covering, which extends, in most cases
the length of the body
Primary purpose/function: to support and stiffen
the body, provide muscle support
In most vertebrates the notochord is displaced by
vertebrae
Introduction
Five distinct/unique characteristics** to
chordates:
1) Dorsal, tubular nerve cord (anterior end becomes
enlarged to form brain)
2) Notochord
3) Pharyngeal slits /pouches (will become middle ear
cavity, tonsils, parathyroid glands, etc.)
4) Endostyle (becomes thyroid gland) for filter feeders
5) Post-anal tail for propulsion (vestigial structure in
humans; coccyx)
** Some of these characteristics appear ONLY in the
embryonic (pre-birth) stages of vertebrates!!!
Introduction
Chordates have many characteristics
that are similar to some invertebrate
animals:
1. Bilateral symmetry (like mollusks, arthropods)
Anterior to posterior axis , right/left halves
2. Coelom well developed (Tube-within-a-tube
arrangement )
3. Metamerism (segmentation) restricted to
outer body wall, head and tail and not into
coelom
4. Cephalization (concentrated head region)
Introduction
Chordates have many characteristics
that are similar to some invertebrate
animals:
5. Endoskeleton (some mollusks, arthropods)
6. Paired appendages (arthropods)
7. Sensory organs are highly developed
(mollusks, some arthropods)
8. Three germs layers (ectoderm, mesoderm,
endoderm)
9. Complete digestive system
Diversity
Belong to Phylum Chordata
Enormous variation
Live in all ecosystems on earth
Most adaptable phylum on earth
LARGE fossil record
According to fossil record, chordates are ~500 million years
old
Approximately 60,000 different species
Characteristics
Endoskeleton:
Grows as animal grows
Series of vertebrae surrounding a spinal cord
Skull is attached to anterior end of backbone
(head-region)
Functions:
Protection, muscle attachment, organ attachment
Characteristics
Circulation:
Closed system
Contain arteries, vessels, veins, ventral heart
Allows for rapid circulation of blood
Most have separation of oxygenated and
deoxygenated blood
Can regulate body temperature (one of two ways)
1) Endotherms – control with internal body
processes (mammals, birds)
2) Exotherms – control by outside environment (fish,
amphibians, reptiles)
Characteristics
Endocrine system:
All chordates have a thyroid gland
Function: to produce hormones
Nervous system:
Cephalization is present
Concentrated in anterior region
VERY highly developed
Allows for much, higher-order processes
Sensory receptors highly developed (eye, nerve endings,
brain processes, etc)
Classification: 3 Subphyla
Three subphyla:
1) Urochordata
Example: sea squirt
2) Cephalochordata
Examples: lanceletes
3) Vertebrata
Examples: birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians
Classification
Three subphyla:
1)
Urochordata
Known as tunicates
Examples: sea squirts
2000 species
Found in all seas (shoreline to great depths)
Most are sessile (permanent) adults, some are free living
Name tunicate comes from “tunic”
This is a tough surrounding that protects animal
May be solitary or live in colonies
Hermaphrodites (contain both sexes)
Classification
Three subphyla:
2)
Cephalochordata
Examples: lanceletes
Only 25 species
Found in marine environments
Sandy bottoms of coastal regions
VERY small (5-7 cm in length)
Free living, swimmers
Separate sexes
Considered the evolutionary beginning to all other
chordates
Classification
Three subphyla:
3) Vertebrata
Examples: mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles
Largest and most diverse chordate subphylum
~57,000 species
Found in all ecosystems, environments
WIDE range of sizes
Grouped together because of the skull region (bony or
cartilaginous braincase)
Tripartite brain (fore, mid and hindbrain)
Can possess both endoskeleton AND
exoskeleton