Chordates are animals that possess a notochord/dorsal stiffening rod (a cartilaginous skeletal rod supporting the body in all embryonic and some adult chordate animals) as the main support for the skeletal system. The phylum is predominantly made up of vertebrates (animals with backbones). However, some animals in the phylum are considered invertebrates (without backbones). Vertebrates have a centrally located heart. The anterior end of the main nerve cord in chordates is enlarged to form at least the suggestion of abrain, but a brain is well developed only in vertebrates.
Click on a member of the phylum Chordata to learn about