Phylum Chordata

45,000 species found throughout the world in nearly every habitat

General characteristics 1. bilaterally

symmetrical, deutersostomate animals deuterostome – an

animal whose mouth develops from cells other than those at the opening of the gastrula.

General characteristics, cont’d

4 unique characteristics present at some stage in development: Notochord Pharyngeal Slits Dorsal Tubular Nerve Cord Postanal Tail

Notochord

The notochord is: a supportive rod that extends most of the

length of the animal dorsal to the body cavity and into the tail

Notochord on developing zebrafish.

Pharyngeal Slits

Pharyngeal Slits: a series of openings in the pharyngeal

region between the digestive tract and the outside of the body

Dorsal Tubular Nerve Cord

Dorsal Tubular Nerve Cord: runs along the

longitudinal axis of the body, just dorsal to the notochord, and usually extends anteriorly as a brain

Postanal Tail

The postanal tail: extends posteriorly beyond the anal

opening

Examples of Chordates

1. sea squints (or tunicates)2. amphioxus3. lampreys4. hagfish5. sharks, rays, skates6. bony fishes7. frogs, toads, salamanders8. alligators, snakes, lizards9. birds10. mammals

Dogfish Shark The representative member of the phylum Chordata

we will begin with is the spiny dogfish shark, Squalus acanthias.

phylum Chordata (having general characteristics listed above) subphylum Vertebrata (having backbone)

class Chondrichthyes (skeleton made of cartilage)

subclass Elasmobranchii The spiny dogfish shark, Squalus

acanthias.a.k.a piked dogfish, skittledog, spotted dogfish, white-

spotted dogfish, codshark, and thorndog

Dogfish Anatomy

Habitat Worldwide distribution, from the temperate to the

subpolar regions, from the shallow waters of the seashore to depths of 100 fathoms (600 feet)

Niche

They are voracious eaters, feeding on: fish Crustaceans Squid Gastropods jelly fish even red and brown algae.

omnivorous – devouring both plant and animal matter

Life Span

Typically from 25-30 years; however, there have been some said to have made it to 70+ years old!

Reproduction

Internal fertilization; most shark “pups” hatch internally, and continue their development within the uterus of the mother

Ovoviviparous – born alive as much smaller versions of the adult

Gestation period up to 2 years (the longest of any vertebrate)

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/spinybirth.html

Adaptations

Sharks do not drink water?! The regulate their osmotic pressure by retaining a high concentration of urea and other solutes in their body fluids. Water enters their cells by osmosis.

Adaptations, Cont’d

The lack a swim bladder as seen in most bony fish. The above 2 facts are responsible for the following

interesting fact. Sharks must keep moving in order to survive. If they stop moving they sink because they are somewhat heavier than the water they displace. If stopped, they sink, and will be crushed by the water pressure of the deep ocean. Sharks of the deeper ocean must continue to move from the moment of birth to the moment of death!

That’s why they eat so much!!