Phylum characterized by the presence of a dorsal hollow nerve cord, notocord, postanal tail, and gill slits (pharyngeal clefts). While not all characteristics are present through the organism's entire life cycle, they are always present at some time in the life of all Chordates.
Most of the members of this phylum are in the subphylum Vertebrata (Vertebrates).
Chor*da"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. chorda cord.] Zool.
A comprehensive division of animals including all Vertebrata together with the Tunicata, or all those having a dorsal nervous cord.
© Webster 1913.
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chaos
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