Chordate Classification

(Protochordate Fishes)

AZO 113 - Comparative Anatomy & Phylogeny of

Vertebrates
Department of Biological Sciences
Phylum Hemichordata
marine, deuterostomate
body: proboscis, collar, & trunk
ciliated pharyngeal slits
open circulatory system
complete digestive tract; dorsal nerve cord
Enteropneusts & Pterobranchia
Balanoglossus sp. (enteropneust)
Rhabdopleura sp. (pterobranch)
Tornaria larva of Balanoglossus
Phylum Chordata
notochord
pharyngeal gill slits
post anal tail
hollow dorsal nerve tube
endostyle
 Subphylum Urochordata
(a)Class Appendicularia.
(b) Class Thaliacea.

(a)

(b)
Pandocia aurata (sea squirt)
Pandocia aurata (sea squirt)
Tunicate metamorphosis.
Subphylum Cephalochordata

Structure of Branchiostoma (amphioxus)

Branchiostoma belcherii (amphioxus)
Phylogenetic Relationships
Subphylum Craniata
skull surrounds brain, olfactory organs, eyes, and
inner ear
Infraphylum Hyperotreti
Infraphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Hyperotreti
Superclass Agnatha
Class Myxini
hagfishes
head supported by cartilaginous bars
lack vertebrae and retain notochord
4 pairs of sensory tentacles around mouth
ventrolateral slime glands
marine, scavenger
Infraphylum Vertebrata
vertebrae surround the nerve cord
include all jawed fishes, tetrapods & lampreys
includes ostracoderm
Ostracoderm (ancient)
Silurian sea floor

ostracoderm (Pteraspis)
Class Petromyzontida
buccal funnel with horny denticles
parasitic; 7 pairs of gill pouches
larva: ammocoete
anadromous
with buccal glands
Class Petromyzontida

Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)

Petromyzon marinus (lamprey)
Life history of a sea lamprey.
Superclass Gnasthostomata

Dunkleotus (arthrodire)
Superclass Gnasthostomata

Bothriolepis (antiarch)
Class Chondrichthyes
cartilaginous fishes
covered with placoid scales
presence of cloaca; without swim bladder
heterocercal tail
gill slits are either ventral or lateral
mouth and anus ventral
ventral subterminal mouth
Subclass Elasmobranchii
well-developed sense of smell
small intestine spiral valve
gill slits are lateral and not covered (5 pairs)
pectoral fins are marked off from the body
internal fertilization
Order Squaliformes
Order Rajiformes (Batoidea)
include rays and skates
ventral gill slits
spiracle is dorsal
dorsoventrally compressed bodies
Order Rajiformes (Batoidea)
Rays and Skates
(a)

(b)
Class Holocephali
Include chimaeras (ratfish and rabbit fishes)
With operculum
Persistent notochord
 Subclass Elasmobranchii.
(a) Reef shark (Carcharhinus
perezi). (b) A bullseye stingray
(Urolophus concentricus).
(c) Class Holocephali. The
ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei).

(b)

(a) (c)
Class Osteichthyes
bony fishes
with swim bladder
no cloaca
homocercal tail
no gill slits
terminal mouth and operculum
Subclass Actinopterygii
ray-finned fishes
fins are provided with dermal fin rays
nostril do not connect with mouth cavity
Chondrosteans, Neopterygians, and Teleosts
Chondrosteans
(a) Shovelnose
sturgeon
(Scaphirhynchus
platorynchus)
(b) Paddlefish
(Polydon spathula)
Teleosts
(a) A flounder
(Pseudopleuronect
es americanus)
(b) Yellowtail
snappers (Ocyurus
chrysurus)
Class Sarcopterygii
lobed finned fishes
fins resemble limbs in appearance
with choanae
Superorder Crossopterygii
Superorder Dipnoi
Superoder Crossopterygii
fleshy, lobelike fins
include actinistians coelacanths
Superoder Crossopterygii
Class Sarcopterygii. The coelacanth
Latimeria.
Superoder Dipnoi
include lungfishes
highly vascularised
Protopterus (Africa), Neoceratodus
(Australia); Lepidosiren (S. America)
Class Sarcopterygii. The lungfish,
Lepidosiren paradoxa.
Superoder Dipnoi
The fishapod Tiktaalik. This 375-million-year-old fossil