Those apart of the Chordata phylum are known as chordates, consisting of about 65,000 different known species, making this phylum extremely diverse. These organisms live in various different habitats depending on what species they are. Chordates come in many different shapes, sizes, and colours and are bilaterally symmetrical. They have a very large ecological role, as they are one of the most important phyla in the world. Chordates are ecologically important since they make up the human population, and depending on the species can be a food source. Chordates are the world’s most gigantic, speedy, and complex organisms. During some point in each chordates life, they will all posses a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail.
MOVEMENT: Most chordates have a set of appendages which are either legs, arms, wings, or fins. Chordates posses segmented muscles, allowing them to move. These organisms move by means of running, sprinting, hopping, crawling, gliding, slithering, swimming, and flying.
BODY COVERINGS: Chordates process three cell layers: Endoderm, ectoderm, and in between these two layers is the mesoderm. These organisms have an organ-level of organization, meaning that groups of two or more tissue work together to make this organism function. Depending on the species, these organisms may have, fur, feathers, hair, scales or different textures and types of skin.
SUPPORT: Some are vertebrates, meaning that these organisms have a back bone. The reason that some chordates are vertebrates is because those specific organisms ended up with extra genes. During one point in their life, chordates have notochord, which helps to keep their shape. In order to protect the brain, these organisms have skulls.
NUTRITION: In order to obtain food, chordates use their different characteristics such as speed, venomous bites, large jaws, and various other possibilities. The chordate will then consume their nutrients through their mouths. Located inside of their mouths is a tongue and in some cases teeth. These organisms eat various plants, animals, or both.
RESPIRATION: Depending on the class, chordates have either lungs or gills serving as their respiratory organ. Those organisms possessing lungs, have the ability to take in oxygen from their nose and mouth, and release carbon dioxide from either the nose or mouth. Those living in aquatic environments in the Chordata phylum have gills, and in most cases located on the side pf the organisms’ head. They intake dissolved oxygen from the water through their gills, and after, turn it into carbon dioxide.
CIRCULATORY: Chordates can either be warm or cold blooded depending on their class, however chordates generally have well-developed circulatory systems. These organisms have a closed circulatory system, and depending on the class can be either single or double looped. A closed circulatory system is when the blood is trapped within closed vessels at all times, travelling throughout the body.
EXCRETION: Some chordates release waste through their bladder, while others produce waste through their digestive system and release it straight through their anus. These organisms can release waste in forms of urine, uric acid, ammonia, and feces.
RESPONSE: Chordates have the most complex nervous system out of all of the phyla. These organisms have a brain, as well as various nerves within their bodies. Some may even have a spinal cord, which is a bundle of nerve fibers, surrounding the spine and connecting virtually all parts of the body to brain in order to receive commands. During at least one stage of a chordates life, these organisms will posses a dorsal hollow nerve cord. Depending on the specific class, chordates have a sense of sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste.
REPRODUCTION: In most cases, chordates reproduce sexually, however, few chordates reproduce asexually. Most chordates are dioecious, however some are hermaphroditic, while others can even change their sex during one point in their lives. Most terrestrial chordates reproduce internally, meaning that the eggs are fertilized inside of the body, while most aquatic chordates reproduce externally, meaning that the eggs are fertilized in the water, outside of the body. When it is time for the young to be born, depending on the class, the baby will either be viviparous, or live-bearing meaning they come out of the parent as is, while others are oviparous meaning they hatch out of an egg that their mother laid. Chordates who reproduce asexually reproduce by budding, creating a genetically identical copy of the parent, or by parthenogenesis, which is when the embryo does not require fertilization in order to develop.
MOVEMENT: Most chordates have a set of appendages which are either legs, arms, wings, or fins. Chordates posses segmented muscles, allowing them to move. These organisms move by means of running, sprinting, hopping, crawling, gliding, slithering, swimming, and flying.
BODY COVERINGS: Chordates process three cell layers: Endoderm, ectoderm, and in between these two layers is the mesoderm. These organisms have an organ-level of organization, meaning that groups of two or more tissue work together to make this organism function. Depending on the species, these organisms may have, fur, feathers, hair, scales or different textures and types of skin.
SUPPORT: Some are vertebrates, meaning that these organisms have a back bone. The reason that some chordates are vertebrates is because those specific organisms ended up with extra genes. During one point in their life, chordates have notochord, which helps to keep their shape. In order to protect the brain, these organisms have skulls.
NUTRITION: In order to obtain food, chordates use their different characteristics such as speed, venomous bites, large jaws, and various other possibilities. The chordate will then consume their nutrients through their mouths. Located inside of their mouths is a tongue and in some cases teeth. These organisms eat various plants, animals, or both.
RESPIRATION: Depending on the class, chordates have either lungs or gills serving as their respiratory organ. Those organisms possessing lungs, have the ability to take in oxygen from their nose and mouth, and release carbon dioxide from either the nose or mouth. Those living in aquatic environments in the Chordata phylum have gills, and in most cases located on the side pf the organisms’ head. They intake dissolved oxygen from the water through their gills, and after, turn it into carbon dioxide.
CIRCULATORY: Chordates can either be warm or cold blooded depending on their class, however chordates generally have well-developed circulatory systems. These organisms have a closed circulatory system, and depending on the class can be either single or double looped. A closed circulatory system is when the blood is trapped within closed vessels at all times, travelling throughout the body.
EXCRETION: Some chordates release waste through their bladder, while others produce waste through their digestive system and release it straight through their anus. These organisms can release waste in forms of urine, uric acid, ammonia, and feces.
RESPONSE: Chordates have the most complex nervous system out of all of the phyla. These organisms have a brain, as well as various nerves within their bodies. Some may even have a spinal cord, which is a bundle of nerve fibers, surrounding the spine and connecting virtually all parts of the body to brain in order to receive commands. During at least one stage of a chordates life, these organisms will posses a dorsal hollow nerve cord. Depending on the specific class, chordates have a sense of sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste.
REPRODUCTION: In most cases, chordates reproduce sexually, however, few chordates reproduce asexually. Most chordates are dioecious, however some are hermaphroditic, while others can even change their sex during one point in their lives. Most terrestrial chordates reproduce internally, meaning that the eggs are fertilized inside of the body, while most aquatic chordates reproduce externally, meaning that the eggs are fertilized in the water, outside of the body. When it is time for the young to be born, depending on the class, the baby will either be viviparous, or live-bearing meaning they come out of the parent as is, while others are oviparous meaning they hatch out of an egg that their mother laid. Chordates who reproduce asexually reproduce by budding, creating a genetically identical copy of the parent, or by parthenogenesis, which is when the embryo does not require fertilization in order to develop.