PHYLUM

CHORDATA
TAXONOMY

From Kent and Carr

and Hyman

Phylum Chordata
Characteristics of Phylum Chordata:
The wall of the pharynx of an embryo or adult is pierced with openings (gill slits);
endostyle (a glandular groove in the floor of the pharynx)

Presence of notochord in embryo or adult

Central Nervous System is hollow

Postanal Tail

Phylum Chordata
SUBPHYLUM:
Subphylum Urochordata- tunicates
Subphylum Cephalochordata- Amphioxus, lancelets

Subphylum Craniata- all chordates with endoskeleton of cartilage or bone or both

Pandocia sp.

Branchiostoma lanceolata

Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Urochordata
Tunicates
notochord in tail region
notochord and nerve cord present in
larvae

e.g. Pandocia sp.

Subphylum Cephalochordata
lancelets; marine animals that are
segmented, elongated, fish like
body

e.g. Branchiostoma lanceolata

Subphylum Urochordata
Class Ascidiacea

Class Larvacea (Appendicularia)

Class Thaliacea

Polycarpa aurata
Ox Heart Ascidian
Class Ascidiacea
Class Larvacea

Pegea confederate
Salp
Class Thaliacea

Subphylum Cephalochordata
Branchiostoma

Asymmetron

Branchiostoma lanceolata
Epigonichthys maldivensis

Subphylum Craniata
Superclass Agnatha- without jaws

Superclass Gnathostomata- with jaws

FISHES AND FISH-LIKE

ANIMALS
Cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates
Fins for locomotory organs
Gills as respiratory organs
Vertebral axis ends with a vertical fin
Heart with 1 atrium and ventricle

Embryo with no membranes (except yolk sak)

Superclass Agnatha
Fish-like animals
Without jaws
No or poorly developed fins

Class Myxini- hagfishes

Suborder Myxnoidea- hagfishes
nasohypophyseal aperture terminal
canal opening into pharynx

Cyclostomata
round mouthed fishes
naked/slimy skin

round jawless mouth

suckers

w/o paired fins

a row of gill slits

single median nasal sac

nasohypophyseal aperture and canal

* Often confused as a class or order

branchial basket vestigial

e.g. Bdellostoma, Myxine

Class Pteraspidomorphi (Diplorhina)

Order Pteraspidiformes (Hetrostraci)
Order Thelodontiformes (Coelolepida)
Order Galeaspidiformes

** EXTINCT! Characteristic: Heavy armored fishes!

Superclass Agnatha
Fish-like animals
Without jaws
No or poorly developed fins

Cyclostomata
round mouthed fishes
naked/slimy skin

round jawless mouth

suckers

w/o paired fins

a row of gill slits

single median nasal sac

nasohypophyseal aperture and canal

* Often confused as a class or order

Class Cephalaspidomorphi (Monorhina)

Order Petromyzontiformes- lampreys
Suborder Petromyzontia

nasohypophyseal aperture dorsal

presence of branchial basket
e.g. Petromyzon, Lampreta
Order Cephalaspidiformes (Osteotraci)
Order Anaspidiformes
** EXTINCT! Characteristic: Heavy armored fishes!
**also known as ostracoderms

Order Cephalaspidiformes (Osteotraci)

Order Pteraspidiformes (Hetrostraci)

Order Galeaspidiformes

Order Anaspidiformes

Order Thelodontiformes (Coelolepida)

Bdellostoma polyrema Chilean Hagfish

Lampreta fluviatilis Linn.

Petromyzon marinus Sea Lamprey

Myxine glutinosa Atlantic Hagfish

 Class Acanthodii

extinct; spiny Paleozoic fishes

Class Placodermi
extinct fishes with jaws and a full-sized hyoid gill slits;

Superclass Gnathostomata
-jawed vertebrate

armored

e.g. Antiarchs, Arthrodires

Class Chrondrichthyes- cartilaginous fishes

sharklike fishes with jaws and paired fins
skeleton wholly cartilaginous
no membrane bones
hyoid slits reduced
exoskeleton of small scales; homologous to teeth

no lungs or air bladder

Class Chrondrichthyes

cartilaginous fishes
sharklike

Subclass Elasmobranchii
Order Cladoselachiformes- Cladoselache
Order Squaliformes- squalouslike sharks
Order Rajiformes- skates, sawfishes, and rays

Order Carcharhiniformes- Requiem Shark

Subclass Elasmobranchii

naked gill slits

hyostylic type of upper-jaw
suspension

Order Heterodontiformes- Port Jackson Shark

Order Hexanchiformes- Sixgill Shark

Order Lamniformes- Great White Shark

Order Orectolobiformes- Nurse Shark

with spiracles

Order Pristiophoriformes- Sawshark

Pelvic fins of males have claspers

Order Squantiniformes- Angel Shark

Order Cladoselachiformes

Squalus acanthias- Spiny Dogfish

Order Squaliformes

Galeocerdo cuvier Tiger Shark

Order Rajiformes

Leucoraja erinacea Little Skate

Order Carcharhiniformes

Heterodontus portusjacksoni- Port Jackson

Shark

Carcharodon carcharias Great White Shark

Squatina squatina- Angelshark

Order Squatiniformes
Order Lanmiformes

Order Heterodontiformes

Ginglymostoma cirratum Nurse Shark

Order Hexachiformes
Pristis pectinate- Smalltooth Sawshark

Order Pristiformes
Hexanchus griseus Bluntnose Sixgill
Shark

Order Orectolobiformes

Triakis scyllium- Banded Houndshark

Rhinobatos punctifer Spotted Guitarfish

Raja sp.

Torpedo sp.

 Subclass Holocephali
gill slits concealed under operculum (non-bony skin flap)
Class Chrondrichthyes

naked skin
absent spiracle

cartilaginous fishes

immovable holostylic jaw suspension

sharklike

flat bony plates in place of teeth

claspers

e.g. Chimaera

Chimaera monstrosa
Rabbit Fish

Chimaera cubana- Cuban chimaera.

Superclass Gnathostomata
-jawed vertebrate

Class Sacropterygii (Choanichthyes)- lobedfinned fishes

Superorder Crossopterygii
paired fins with a rounded basal lobe
two dorsal fins

Superclass Osteichthyes

skeleton ossified

chrondocranium, jaws, and pectoral

girdle incased in dermal bones

bony fishes

scales/rhomboid plates

gills covered by a bony operculum

air bladder= lungs

no claspers

hyostylic jaw suspension

e.g. Latimeria, Osteolepis

Superorder Dipnoi- Lungfish

paired fins with elongated jointed axis bearing side
branches

autostylic jaw suspension; spiracle absent

with tooth plates
e.g. Neoceratodus, Protopterus, Lepidosiren

Neoceratodus forsteri Queensland Lungfish

Latimeria chalumnae - West Indian Ocean

coelacanth
Superorder Crossopterygii

Protopterus annectens
African Lungfish

Lepidosiren paradoxa
South American Lungfish

Osteolepis
Superorder Dipnoi

Superclass Gnathostomata
-jawed vertebrate

Class Actinopterygii- ray-finned fishes

paired without axis or basal lobes
one dorsal fin

Superclass Osteichthyes

Subclass Chrondrostei

chrondocranium, jaws, and pectoral

girdle incased in dermal bones

Subclass Neopterygii

hyostylic jaw suspension

skeleton ossified

bony fishes

w/o cloaca

scales/rhomboid plates

gills covered by a bony operculum

air bladder= lungs

no claspers

Subclass Teleostei

 Subclass Chrondrostei- cartilaginous

Superclass Osteichtyes
-bony fishes

endoskeleton

Order Palaeonisciformes
Order Polypteriformes- pectoral fins w/ basal
lobes

e.g. Polypterus, Calamoichthys

Order Acipenseriformes- fins are not lobed

Class Actinopterygii
ray-finned fishes
paired without axis or basal
lobes

one dorsal fin

w/o cloaca
hyostylic jaw suspension

e.g. Acipenser, Polyodon

Subclass Neopterygii- ganoids

Order Lepisosteiformes
thick ganoid scales of rhombic shape
e.g. Lepidosteus

Order Amiiformes
thin and round cycloid scales
e.g. Amia

Polyodon spathula American Paddlefish

Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri Saddled Bichir

Order Polypteriformes

Calamoichthys calabaricus

Order Acipenseriformes

Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus- Atlantic Sturgeon

Lepisosteus osseus Longnose Gar

Order Amiiformes
Order Lepisosteiformes

Amia calva Bowfish

Superclass Osteichtyes
-bony fishes

Subclass Teleostei- modern ray fishes; typical

bony fishes

Order Clupeiformes
e.g. herring, sardines

Order Cypriniformes

Class Actinopterygii
ray-finned fishes
paired without axis or basal
lobes

one dorsal fin

w/o cloaca
hyostylic jaw suspension

e.g. minnows, carps, goldfish

Order Anguilliformes
e.g. eels

Order Gadiformes
e.g. codfishes

Order Perciformes
e.g. perchlike teleosts

Sardina pilchardus
European Pilchard

Clupea harengus Atlantic Herring

Order Clupeiformes

Pimephales promelas - Bluntnose Minnow

Cyprinus carpio Common Carp

Anguilla anguilla- European Eel

Order Anguilliformes

Order Cypriniformes
Order Perciformes

Caesioperca lepidoptera- Butterfly Perch

Carassius auratus- Goldfish

Order Gadiformes

Gadus morhua- Atlantic Cod

TETRAPODS
terrestrial or aquatic vertebrates
limbs as locomotory appendages
lungs as respiratory organs
vertebral column terminating in a tail (sometimes absent)
heart with 2 atria and

 Subclass Labyrinthodontia- earliest tetrapods

with an armor of small, mostly, ventral scales,

Class Amphibia
cold-blooded aquatic or
terrestrial vertebrates

naked or with bony dermal

scales

and primitive vertebrae

e.g. Eryops

Order Ichthyostegalia
e.g. Ichthyostega
Order Temnospondyli

e.g. Archegosaurus

lungs as respiratory organs

Order Anthracosauria

anamniote tetrapods

e.g. Seymouria

Ichthyostega sp..
Eryops megacephalus

Seymouria sanjuanensis

Archegosaurus decheni

 Subclass Lissamphibia- modern amphibians

Order Proanura
Order Anura- frogs and toads

naked tailess amphibians

Class Amphibia
cold-blooded aquatic or terrestrial
vertebrates

naked or with bony dermal

scales

lungs as respiratory organs

anamniote tetrapods

without external gills

two pairs of limbs; two occipital condyles

e.g. Discoglossus, Pipa, Rana, Hyla, Xenopus, Bufo

Order Urodela- newts and salamanders
naked, tailed amphibians
with or without external gills

two pairs of limbs

two occipital condyles
e.g. Siren, Triton, Necturus, Salamandra, Ambystoma,
Plethodon, Cryptobranchus, Amphiuma

Xenopus laevis
African Clawed Frog

Order Proanura

Rana pipiens- Northern Leopard Frog

Pipa pipa- Star-fingered Toad

Hyla arborea
European Tree Frog

Bufo bufo- Common Toad

Discoglossus galganoi
Iberian Painted Frog

Siren sp.

Triturus sp.

Necturus maculosus
Common Mudpuppy
Plethodon cinereus- Redback Salamander
Salamandra corsica
Corsican fire salamander

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Hellbender
Ambystoma maculatum
Spotted Salamander
Amphiuma means- two-toed amphiuma

 Order Apoda- coecilians or blind worms

vermiform amphibians
without limbs or limb girdles

vertebrae amphicoelous

Class Amphibia
cold-blooded aquatic or terrestrial
vertebrates

naked or with bony dermal

scales

lungs as respiratory organs

anamniote tetrapods

persistent notochord
Dermophis mexicanus- Mexican burrowing
caecilian

 Subclass Anapsida- no temporal fossae

Class Reptilia
cold-blooded
aquatic or terrestrial tetrapods
naked, scaly or bony plates

lungs as respiratory organ

skeleton ossified with vertebrae
one occipital condyle
heart with sinus venosus; ventricle with
partition

Order Captorhinida- Stem Reptiles

Order Chelonia- turtles
trunk short and broad
inclosed in an armor (outer: horny; inner: bony
plates)

limb girdles in horny shields

e.g. Chelydra, Testudo, Emys, Chrysemys, Trionyx,
Thalassochelys, Chelone

Chrysemys picta
Painted Turtle

Chelydra serpentine
Common Snapping Turtle

Emys orbicularis
European Pond Turtle
Caretta caretta
Longgerhead Sea Turtle

Trionyx triunguis
African Softshell Turtle

Testudo marginata
Marginated Tortoise

Chelonia mydas
Green Sea Turtle

 Subclass Lepidosauria- two temporal fossae

Order Rhynchocephalia
long tailed lizardlike reptiles

Class Reptilia

weak limbs

teeth fused to jaw

cold-blooded
aquatic or terrestrial tetrapods
naked, scaly or bony plates

lungs as respiratory organ

skeleton ossified with vertebrae
one occipital condyle
heart with sinus venosus; ventricle with
partition

e.g. Sphenodon

Order Squamata- lizards and snakes

long tailed reptiles with horny scales
teeth set in sockets
Suborder Lacertilia- limbs present
Suborder Ophidia- limbs absent

Sphenodon punctatus
Northern Tuatara

Pogona vitticeps
Central Bearded Dragon

Lampropeltis triangulum syspila

Milksnake

 Subclass Euryapsida- one temporal fossa

Order Sauropterygia
e.g. Plesiosaurus

Class Reptilia
cold-blooded

Order Ichthyopterygia- aquatic fishlike reptiles

Plesiosaurus

aquatic or terrestrial tetrapods

naked, scaly or bony plates

lungs as respiratory organ

skeleton ossified with vertebrae
one occipital condyle
heart with sinus venosus; ventricle with
partition

Ichthyosaurus communis

 Subclass Archosauria
skull diapsid with two temporal openings

Class Reptilia
cold-blooded
aquatic or terrestrial tetrapods

birds stem from this subclass

Order Thecodontia- stem archosaurs
Order Pterosauria- winged reptiles
e.g. Pterodactyl

naked, scaly or bony plates

Order Saurischia- dinosaurs w/ reptile-like pelvis

lungs as respiratory organ

Order Ornithischia- dinosaurs w/ birdlike pelvis

skeleton ossified with vertebrae

one occipital condyle
heart with sinus venosus; ventricle with
partition

Order Crocodilia- crocodiles

amphibious reptiles w/ bony plates underneath horny skin
heart with two ventricles
e.g. Alligator, Caiman, Crocodilus

Pterodactylus sp.
Pterodactyl

Order Ornithischia
Stegosaurus

Order Thecodontia
Karamuru vorax

Order Saurischia
Eoraptor lunensis- Raptor

Alligator mississippiensis
American Alligator

Caiman yacare
Yacare Caiman

Crocodylus johnsoni
Freshwater Crocodile

Class Reptilia
cold-blooded
aquatic or terrestrial tetrapods
naked, scaly or bony plates

lungs as respiratory organ

skeleton ossified with vertebrae
one occipital condyle
heart with sinus venosus; ventricle with
partition

Subclass Synapsida- independently evolved one temporal fossa

Order Pelycosauria

Order Therapsida- lead to mammals

 Subclass Archaeornithes- earliest known birds

Class Aves
warm-blooded
oviparous (egg laying)

e.g. Protoavis, Archaeopteryx

Subclass Neornithes- all the other birds

Superorder Odontognathae- toothed Cretaceous
marine birds

feathers

e.g. Hesperornis, Ichthyornis

one occipital condyle

Superorder Palaeognathae- ratites

forelimbs modified to wings

heart with two ventricles
embryo with membranes

e.g. ostrich, emu, rhea, cassowary

Superorder Neognathae- Carinates

Protoavis
Hesperornis regalis

Subclass Archaeornithes

Superorder Odontognathae

Archaeopteryx lithographica

Ichthyornis dispar

Struthio camelus
Common Ostrich

Dromaius novaehollandiae
Emu

Casuarius casuarius
Southern Cassowary

Rhea Americana
Greater Rhea

 Order Columbiformes

Superorder Neognathae

Carinates

e.g. doves, pigeons

Order Pelecaniformes
e.g. pelicans, cormorants
Order Anseriformes
e.g. ducks, geese, other waterfowl
Order Galliformes
e.g. quail, peacock, domestic fowl
Order Falconiformes
e.g. hawks, eagles, vultures
Order Psittaciformes
e.g. parrots, paroquets
Order Passeriformes
e.g. perching birds, song birds

Ara ararauna
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
Columba livia domestica
Feral Pigeon

Pavo cristatus
Indian Peafowl

Eopsaltria australis
Eastern Yellow Robin
Gyps fulvus
Griffon Vulture

Microcarbo melanoleucos
Little Pied Cormorant

Aix galericulata
Mandarin Duck

 Subclass Prototheria- oviparous mammals

Order Monotremata

Class Mammalia

e.g. platypuses and echidna

Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Platypus

warm-blooded
viviparous aquatic or terrestrial tetrapods
hair as covering

heart with 2 atria and 2 ventricles

young nourished by milk
embryo with membrane
Zaglossus bruijni
Western Long-beaked
Echidna

 Subclass Theria
Infraclass Metatheria- viviparous mammals with
abdominal skin pouch

Order Marsupialia- Marsupials

Class Mammalia

e.g. kangaroo, wallaby, wombats, opossums

warm-blooded
viviparous aquatic or terrestrial tetrapods
hair as covering

heart with 2 atria and 2 ventricles

young nourished by milk
Vombatus ursinus
Common Wombat

embryo with membrane

Macropus giganteus
Eastern Grey Kangaroo

 Infraclass Eutheria- true (chorioallantoic) placenta

Order Insectivora- insectivores
plantigrade clawed feet; elongated snout
e.g. shrew, mole, hedgehog

Subclass Theria

Order Xenarthra- edentates

arboreal; teeth w/o enamel
e.g. armadillo, sloths, South American anteaters

Order Tubulidentata- long snout and tongue; ant-eating

e.g. aardvark, African anteater

Order Pholidota- ant-eating mammals

head, body, and tail covered w/ imbricated horny scales
e.g. pangolins (scaly anteaters)

Order Chiroptera- flying mammals

e.g. bats

Order Primata

Blarina brevicauda
Northern Short-tailed Shrew

Dasypus novemcinctus
Nine-banded Armadillo

Manis javanica
Sunda Pangolin

Corynorhinus townsendii
Townsends Big-eared Bat

Bradypus variegatus
Brown-throated Sloth

Orycteropus afer
Aardvark

 Suborder Prosimii
Order Primata
terrestrial or arboreal hairy mammals

e.g. lemur, lori, tarsier

Suborder Anthropoidea
Infraorder Platyrrhini- nostrils open to the sides

five digits in each foot

e.g. new world monkeys and marmosets

forefeet

Infraorder Catarrhini- nostrils open downwards

brain highly convoluted with very large

cerebral hemispheres

e.g. lemurs, apes, humans

Superfamily Cercopithecoidea
e.g. old world monkeys

Superfamily Hominoidea

Carlito syrichta
Philippine Tarsier

Mico melanurus
Black-tailed Marmoset

Papio anubis
Olive Baboon
Old World Monkey

Ateles hybridus
Brown Spider Monkey
New World Monkey

Order Primata
terrestrial or arboreal hairy mammals
five digits in each foot
forefeet

brain highly convoluted with very

large cerebral hemispheres

e.g. lemurs, apes, humans

Superfamily Hominoidea
Family Hylobatidae
e.g. gibbon

Family Pongidae
e.g. apes, orangutans, chimps, gorilla

Family Hominidae
e.g. Australopithecus, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens

Hylobates lar
Lar Gibbon

Pongo pygmaeus
Bornean Orangutan
Homo erectus

Gorilla gorilla
Western Gorilla

Australopithecus afarensis

 Order Lagomorpha
large external ears; four upper incisors
e.g. rabbit, pika, hare

Order Rodentia
Subclass Theria
Infraclass Eutheria

one pair of upper incisors; lacks canines; diastema

Suborder Sciuromorpha
Infraorder Sciuromorpha
e.g. squirrel, marmot, prairie dog

Infraorder Castorimorpha
e.g. beavers

Infraorder Myomorpha
e.g. gophers, rats

Suborder Hystricognathi
Infraorder Caviomorpha
e.g. porcupines, cavies, nutria

Ochotona princeps
American Pika

Castor canadensis
North American Beaver
Thomomys bottae
Botta's pocket gopher

Marmota flaviventris
Yellow-bellied Marmot

Dolichotis sp.
Mara

 Order Carnivora- terrestrial carnivores

canine teeth prominent
e.g. canines, hyena, bear

Subclass Theria
Infraclass Eutheria

Order Pinnipedia- aquatic carnivores

webbed feet modified to flippers

Family Phocidae- earless (wriggling) seals

Family Otariidae- eared (fur) seals and sea lions

Family Odobenidae- walrus

Order Perissodactyla- ungulates with mesaxonic

foot (Odd number of toes)
herbivarous
e.g. horse, rhinoceros, tapir

Phoca vitulina
Harbor Seal

Tapirus indicus
Malayan Tapir

Crocuta crocuta
Spotted Hyena

Diceros bicornis
Black Rhinoceros

Ursus arctos
Brown Bear

Neophoca cinerea
Austrailian Sea Lion

Odobenus rosmarus
Walrus

 Order Artiodactyla- ungulates with paraxonic foot

(even numbered toes)
Suborder Suiformes

Subclass Theria
Infraclass Eutheria

simple stomach; dentition complete

e.g. pig, hippo, peccaries

Suborder Tylopoda
upper incisor retained; semi-complex stomach
e.g. camel, llama

Suborder Ruminantia- cud chewers w/ complex

stomach

Family Cervidae- deer, caribou

Family Giraffidae- giraffe
Family Antilocapridae- pronghorn antelope
Family Bovidae- ox, sheep, goat, true antelope
Family Tragulidae- chevrotains (mouse deer)

Pecari tajacu
Collared Peccary

Rangifer tarandus granti

Porcupine Caribou

Lama glama
Domesticated Llama

Antilocapra americana
Pronghorn

Giraffa Camelopardalis
Giraffe

Ovis aries
Domesticated Sheep

Tragulus nigricans
Philippine Mouse Deer

 Order Hyracoidea- coneys

short-tailed herbivorous mammals; no clavicles

Subclass Theria
Infraclass Eutheria

e.g. Hyraxes

Order Proboscidea- tusked animals

e.g. elephant, mastodon

Order Sirenia- sea cows

e.g. manatee, dugong

Order Cetacea- fish-like aquatic mammals

e.g. whales, dolphin, porpoise

Trichechus manatus
West Indian Manatee

Dugong dugon
Dugong

Heterohyrax brucei
Yellow-spotted Hyrax

Mammut sp.

Loxodonta Africana
African Bush Elephant

Tursiops aduncus
Indo-pacific Bottlenose
Dolphin

Phocoena phocoena
Harbor Porpoise