
Chordate - Wikipedia
A chordate (/ ˈkɔːrdeɪt / KOR-dayt) is a bilaterian animal belonging to the phylum Chordata (/ kɔːrˈdeɪtə / kor-DAY-tə).
Chordate | Definition, Characteristics, & Facts | Britannica
Apr 24, 2026 · Chordate, any member of the phylum Chordata, which includes the vertebrates, the most highly evolved animals, as well as two other subphyla—the tunicates and cephalochordates.
Chordate - Examples, Characteristics, Phylogeny, and Pictures
Nov 28, 2025 · Presently, around 81,000 extant chordate species are divided into three subphyla: cephalochordates (Cephalochordata), tunicates (Tunicata), and vertebrates or craniates (Vertebrata). …
29.1 Chordates - Biology 2e | OpenStax
The chordates are named for the notochord, which is a flexible, rod-shaped mesodermal structure that is found in the embryonic stage of all chordates and in the adult stage of some chordate species. It is …
Chordate - New World Encyclopedia
Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes all the vertebrates (subphylum Vertebrata), as well as two subphylum of invertebrates, the Urochordata (tunicates) and the …
Chordates - Definition, Characteristics and Examples
Feb 17, 2026 · Chordates encompass a diverse and fascinating group of animals, characterized by a set of unique anatomical features that define their evolutionary lineage. From the mighty blue whale to …
Chordata - Definition and Examples - Biology Online Dictionary
Aug 6, 2023 · We can define chordate as follows: “The chordates are the class of animals that possess four anatomical features, namely (1) notochord, (2) dorsal nerve cord, (3) post-anal tail, and (4) …
29.1A: Characteristics of Chordata - Biology LibreTexts
The chordates are named for the notochord: a flexible, rod-shaped structure that is found in the embryonic stage of all chordates and also in the adult stage of some chordate species.
Key Characteristics of Chordates: Understanding the Animals
TL;DR: Chordates are fascinating animals with four defining characteristics: a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail. They include vertebrates (like humans) and …
CHORDATE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of CHORDATE is any of a phylum (Chordata) of animals having at least at some stage of development a notochord, dorsally situated central nervous system, and gill slits and including the …