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Chordata: organisms that possess a structure called a notochord, at least during some part pf their development.
Notochord: rod that extends most of the body length when fully developed, between nerve cord and digestive track, acts as support for locomotion
Characteristics:
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bilateral symmetry
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well developed coelom
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single dorsa, hollow nerve cord
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post-anal tail
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pharyngeal pouches
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ventral heart
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closed circulatory system
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complete digestive system
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bony of cartilaginous exoskeleton
All characteristics present at some point of chordata life, but not having to be present throughout life.
This phylum contains ~43,700 species and is divided into three subphylums-
Urochordata (tunicates)
Cephalachordata (lancelets)
Vertebrata (vertebrates)
Jackson's chameleons and humans fall under the vertebrata subphylum.
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