Image by Prehistoricplanes, click here to see original.
Phylum: Chordata
Phylum Chordata consists of the well-known Vertebrata, including fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals, with the rest being Urochordata (tunicates) and Cephalochordata (lancelets). |
Image by Nick Hobgood, click here to see original.
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Members of Chordata have the distinguishing characteristic in which they possess a structure known as the notochord at least at one or more points throughout their development. A notochord is a rod which extends through a majority of the length of the body when fully developed. It typically lies dorsal to the gut system and ventral to the central nervous system. This allows it to stiffen the body and acts as a support point during movement.
Chordates typically inhabit marine, terrestrial and freshwater habitats. A majority of Chordates are also known to have aquatic stages at some point during their life cycle. Our collection at the museum is widely representative of animals belonging to this phylum with a variety from tunicates to sea squirts to all sorts of vertebrates.