Join with a free account for more service, or become a member for full access to exclusives and extra support of WorldSupporter >>
What are chordates?
Chordates are a phylum of animals characterized by a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, a post-anal tail, and an endostyle. These features are present at some point in their development, though they may be modified or absent in adult forms.
What are the main features of chordates?
- Notochord: A flexible rod-like structure that provides support and serves as a precursor to the vertebral column in vertebrates.
- Dorsal Hollow Nerve Cord: A bundle of nerves running along the back of the animal. It is the central nervous system and is associated with the development of a brain.
- Pharyngeal Slits: Openings in the throat that develop into various structures, such as gills in fish or parts of the inner ear and neck in mammals.
- Post-Anal Tail: A muscular tail extending beyond the anus. It can be used for propulsion, balance, or other functions.
- Endostyle: A groove in the ventral wall of the pharynx that secretes mucus and iodine. In some chordates, it develops into the thyroid gland.
Why are chordates important?
- Diversity: Chordates encompass a wide range of animals, from simple tunicates to complex vertebrates.
- Evolutionary Significance: Chordates are believed to be the ancestors of all vertebrates, including humans.
- Ecological Roles: Chordates play crucial roles in ecosystems as predators, prey, and decomposers.
What are applications of chordates?
- Medical Research: Chordates, particularly vertebrates, are used extensively in medical research to study diseases and develop treatments.
- Conservation Biology: Understanding chordate diversity and ecology is essential for conservation efforts.
- Fisheries and Aquaculture: Chordates, such as fish, are important for food resources and aquaculture.
Example
Fish are a diverse group of chordates that have adapted to life in aquatic environments. They possess gills for respiration, fins for swimming, and a lateral line system for sensing vibrations in the water.
Critical comments
- Diversity: The phylum Chordata is so diverse that it can be challenging to define common characteristics that apply to all members.
- Evolutionary History: The evolutionary relationships within Chordata are still being debated, especially for early-branching groups.
- Extinction: Many chordate species are threatened or endangered due to human activities, habitat loss, and climate change.
Access:
Public
Click & Go to more related summaries or chapters:
Developmental Biology: The best concepts summarized
Developmental Biology: The best concepts summarized
A short introduction to the best concepts of developmental biology: From a zygote to a vertebrate.
Summaries and supporting content:
Access:
Public
This content refers to .....
Summaries and Study Assistance - Start
Summaries and Study Assistance - Start
Summaries, study notes, tips and tools for study and know how
For optimal and free use of summaries, study help, exam tickets, practice exams, bullet points notes
- join JoHo WorldSupporter
- then check the study and exam tips;
- study the material through the summaries;
- repeat the material through the bullets or notes
- master the material through the practice exams.
Work for WorldSupporter
JoHo can really use your help! Check out the various student jobs here that match your studies, improve your competencies, strengthen your CV and contribute to a more tolerant world
Check how to use summaries on WorldSupporter.org
Online access to all summaries, study notes en practice exams
- Check out: Register with JoHo WorldSupporter: starting page (EN)
- Check out: Aanmelden bij JoHo WorldSupporter - startpagina (NL)
How and why would you use WorldSupporter.org for your summaries and study assistance?
- For free use of many of the summaries and study aids provided or collected by your fellow students.
- For free use of many of the lecture and study group notes, exam questions and practice questions.
- For use of all exclusive summaries and study assistance for those who are member with JoHo WorldSupporter with online access
- For compiling your own materials and contributions with relevant study help
- For sharing and finding relevant and interesting summaries, documents, notes, blogs, tips, videos, discussions, activities, recipes, side jobs and more.
Using and finding summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter
There are several ways to navigate the large amount of summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter.
- Use the menu above every page to go to one of the main starting pages
- Starting pages: for some fields of study and some university curricula editors have created (start) magazines where customised selections of summaries are put together to smoothen navigation. When you have found a magazine of your likings, add that page to your favorites so you can easily go to that starting point directly from your profile during future visits. Below you will find some start magazines per field of study
- Use the topics and taxonomy terms
- The topics and taxonomy of the study and working fields gives you insight in the amount of summaries that are tagged by authors on specific subjects. This type of navigation can help find summaries that you could have missed when just using the search tools. Tags are organised per field of study and per study institution. Note: not all content is tagged thoroughly, so when this approach doesn't give the results you were looking for, please check the search tool as back up
- Check or follow your (study) organizations:
- by checking or using your study organizations you are likely to discover all relevant study materials.
- this option is only available trough partner organizations
- Check or follow authors or other WorldSupporters
- by following individual users, authors you are likely to discover more relevant study materials.
- Use the Search tools
- 'Quick & Easy'- not very elegant but the fastest way to find a specific summary of a book or study assistance with a specific course or subject.
- The search tool is also available at the bottom of most pages
Do you want to share your summaries with JoHo WorldSupporter and its visitors?
- Check out: Why and how to add a WorldSupporter contributions
- JoHo members: JoHo WorldSupporter members can share content directly and have access to all content: Join JoHo and become a JoHo member
- Non-members: When you are not a member you do not have full access, but if you want to share your own content with others you can fill out the contact form
Quicklinks to fields of study for summaries and study assistance
Field of study
- All studies for summaries, study assistance and working fields
- Communication & Media sciences
- Corporate & Organizational Sciences
- Cultural Studies & Humanities
- Economy & Economical sciences
- Education & Pedagogic Sciences
- Health & Medical Sciences
- IT & Exact sciences
- Law & Justice
- Nature & Environmental Sciences
- Psychology & Behavioral Sciences
- Public Administration & Social Sciences
- Science & Research
- Technical Sciences
Comments, Compliments & Kudos:
Add new contribution