Chordata

Question 1

Name the 8 traits of Phylum Chordata

Answer 1

1. Bilateral deuterostomes
2. Pharyngeal gill slits
3. Complete, regionally specialized gut
4. Dorsal, hollow nerve cord
5. Dorsal notochord - mesodermal endoskeleton
6. Endostyle or thyroid - endodermal. Releases tons of mucus that’s used to capture food
7. Muscular, post-anal tail
8. Circulatory system - usually a closed circulatory system with a complex ventral heart

Question 2

What are the 3 synapomorphies of Chordata?

Answer 2

1. Dorsal notochord
2. Endostyle or thyroid
3. Muscular, post-anal tail

Question 3

Caudal fin

Answer 3

used for locomotion; side-to-side motion. Metachronal waves start from head then travels to the tail

Question 4

Notochord

Answer 4

creates structural integrity along the animal so it can swim through the viscosity of H2O

Question 5

Dorsal hollow nerve cord

Answer 5

develops into the central nervous system: the brain and spine

Question 6

Pharynx with gill slits

Answer 6

has thick mucus used to capture food. Also used for gas exchange. It has a lot of SA

Question 7

Post-anal tail

Answer 7

extends beyond the anus and is used for locomotion