Phylum Chordata:
The word chordata comes from the word chordate, which means that a specific animal has a notochord, a hollow dorsal nerve chord, pharyngeal slits, an endostyle, and a post-anal tail for some of its life.
Example one:
Anas platyrhynchos, or better known as the mallard lives all
over the world but in warmer climates. The mallard eats wetland plants and
grains.
Example two: Amphiprioninae, also known as the clown fish live on the ocean floor and eat left over fish on algae.
Example three: Panthera leo, also know as the lion live in sub-Saharan, Africa, and eat meat.
Example two: Amphiprioninae, also known as the clown fish live on the ocean floor and eat left over fish on algae.
Example three: Panthera leo, also know as the lion live in sub-Saharan, Africa, and eat meat.
Subphylm Urochordata:
Urochordata also known as tunicata, are are very abundant in the ocean and usually have barrel-shaped bodies.
Example one:
Urochordata is the scientific name for tunicates.
Tunicates live on top of stationary sea creatures, and eat sea water and small
crustaceans.
Example two: Ascidiacea or ascidians also live attached to stationary sea creatures, and also feed on sea water.
Example two: Ascidiacea or ascidians also live attached to stationary sea creatures, and also feed on sea water.
Subphylum Cephalochordata:
Cephalochordata are marine animals that are segmented, and possess elongated bodies with a notochord that stretches the length of the body.
Example one:
The scientific name for lancelet is cephalochrodata.
Lancelets live on and usually below the ocean floor. They eat the sea water and
other small crustaceans.
Example two: Branchiostoma also live in the sediment found on the ocean floor, and because they are filter feeders they can only consume water and small crustaceans.
Example two: Branchiostoma also live in the sediment found on the ocean floor, and because they are filter feeders they can only consume water and small crustaceans.
Subphylum Vertebrata:
Subphylum vertebrata makes up most of the chordata phylum having 64,000 known species. These animals contain a back bone. They can range in size from a tree frog to a blue whale.
Class Myxini:
Animals in class myxini are ones who are eel shaped and produce slime. They are the only known animals with a skull but no vertebral column.
Example one: The scientific name for hagfish is Myxinidae. Its slime is used as a defense mechanism. Hagfish eat marine worms and other invertebrates.
Petromyzontida:
Petromyzontida are a group of vertebrates that include the modern Lamprey and there fossil relatives.
Example one: The lamprey's scientific name is Petromyzontiformes Lampreys don't have a jaw. They are considered a parasite.
Class Chondrichthyes:
Chondrichstyes or cartilaginous fish are those who have a jaw and a pair of fins. And rather than its body being made up of bones it is all cartilage. Some fish that meet these criteria are: sting ray, sharks, and skates.
Order Holocephalans:
Holoceephalans are a group of cartilaginous fish. They are the last known surviving group from the order Chimaeriformes. Fossils from Holocephali started coming up during the Devonian period.
Example one:
Rat fish or Chimaera gets its name from its rat like tail.
To reproduce it lays leathery egg casings on the sandy ocean floor.
Example two: Rabbit fish or Hydrolagus can be distinguished by its prominent stripe on its face. These fish can also be called fox fish because of the face.
Example three: Elephant fish or Callorhynchus can be distinguished by its long fleshy snout, resembling an elephant. They don't eat like elephants they only filter feed small fish.
Example two: Rabbit fish or Hydrolagus can be distinguished by its prominent stripe on its face. These fish can also be called fox fish because of the face.
Example three: Elephant fish or Callorhynchus can be distinguished by its long fleshy snout, resembling an elephant. They don't eat like elephants they only filter feed small fish.
Order Elasmobrachii:
Elasmobrachii are fish that lack swim bladders. They only remain buoyant because of the oils that are stored in there liver. These fish are also targeted because people want those oils.
Example one:
The great white shark or carcharodon carcharias has a life span of around 70 years.
Both males and females take around 30 years to reach sexual maturity.
Example two: The hammerhead shark or sphyrna mokarran have amazing vision. Because of the shape of there head they are able to see above and below themselves at all times.
Example three: Tiger sharks or galeocerdo cuvier have the capability of reaching lengths of up to 16 feet. They are found in more tropical waters in the Pacific. The tiger shark is also mainly nocturnal.
Example two: The hammerhead shark or sphyrna mokarran have amazing vision. Because of the shape of there head they are able to see above and below themselves at all times.
Example three: Tiger sharks or galeocerdo cuvier have the capability of reaching lengths of up to 16 feet. They are found in more tropical waters in the Pacific. The tiger shark is also mainly nocturnal.
Order Galeomorphi:
Galeomorphi is a "superorder" containing all cartilagenious fishes and sharks, excluding the dog fish.
Example one:
Bullhead sharks or carcharhinus
leucas are relatively small coming in at about 59 inches. It is rumored that
these sharks are poisonous but no scientific research has been able to prove
this theory.
Example two: Whale shark or rhincodon typus are very large and slow filter feeders. They can be over 46 feet long, and weigh up to 66,000 pounds. Making it the largest nonliving mammal.
Example three: Blue shark or prionas glauca live in deep waters and are able to swim at a very fast pace. They can reproduce in the hundreds and feed on fish and squid.
Example two: Whale shark or rhincodon typus are very large and slow filter feeders. They can be over 46 feet long, and weigh up to 66,000 pounds. Making it the largest nonliving mammal.
Example three: Blue shark or prionas glauca live in deep waters and are able to swim at a very fast pace. They can reproduce in the hundreds and feed on fish and squid.
Order Squalomorphi:
Squalomorphi are fish who have internal jaws, teeth, and three semicircular canals. They also need a more proficient predator than a jawless fish.
Example one:
Porbegale shark or lamna nasus lives in the cold waters of
the North Pacific and Atlantic. They feed on bony fishes and can get up to 9
feet long.
Example two: Thresher shark or alopias can also be known as the fox shark because of it long tail. Their tale can get to the point where it is longer than the shark itself.
Example three: Mako shark or isurus paucus are usually large, they can reach lengths of up to 11 feet.The females are usually larger than the males. They can be found off the coast of Italy.
Example two: Thresher shark or alopias can also be known as the fox shark because of it long tail. Their tale can get to the point where it is longer than the shark itself.
Example three: Mako shark or isurus paucus are usually large, they can reach lengths of up to 11 feet.The females are usually larger than the males. They can be found off the coast of Italy.
Class Oseteichthyes:
Oseteichthyes are also known as bony fish. There skeletons are made up of bones instead of cartilage. This class is very diverse, having over 435 families and over 28,000 species. The oldest known fossils are around 420 million years old.
Order Actinopterygii:
These are also known as the ray-finned fishes because they possess fin rays. This is the dominant class of vertebrates with over 30,000 species. These fish can be found in the deep sea and also in high mountain river streams. So they are very common and found almost everywhere.
Example One: The Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) first appeared before the dinosaurs. They have thrived since there creation and continue to do so today. It is said that they have become faster and there scales have become more transparent.
Example Two: The Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus) are among the oldest fish in the world. They can reach 15 feet in length. Females will lay from 800,000-3.75 million eggs at one time.
Example Two: The Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus) are among the oldest fish in the world. They can reach 15 feet in length. Females will lay from 800,000-3.75 million eggs at one time.
Order Sarcopterygii:
These are "ear lobe-finned fish which are also bony fish with fleshy paired fins. It is said that these fishes four fins evolved in to the first four legged creatures that walked on earth.
Example One: The West Indian Ocean coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) is now extinct. The average weight was about 174 lbs. and they could reach up to 6.5 ft. in length.
Example Two: The Queensland Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) is one of 6 still extant lungfish. Lungfish fossils date back 380 million years ago. The Queensland lungfish is also the only native species from the Mary and Burnett river systems in queensland.
Example Two: The Queensland Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) is one of 6 still extant lungfish. Lungfish fossils date back 380 million years ago. The Queensland lungfish is also the only native species from the Mary and Burnett river systems in queensland.
Class Amphibia:
Amphibians live in a plethora of different habitats including terrestrial, fossorial, and water. They start out as larva that live underwater, then metamorphosis into land creatures. Most amphibians also use there skin as a secondary respiratory system.
Order Urodela:
These are tailed amphibians or salamanders that can be distinguished from the frog based on having a tail. The larva have gills and most adults have lungs. Creatures in this class are usually brightly colored.
Example One: The salamander (Caudata) is characterized by a lizard like appearance. Both larva and adults possess a tail. They are most common in the Northern Hemisphere.
Example Two: The Newt (Pleurodelinae) is an aquatic larva and a land roaming adult. They are also characterized by lizard like features such as the tail. They can be found in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Example Two: The Newt (Pleurodelinae) is an aquatic larva and a land roaming adult. They are also characterized by lizard like features such as the tail. They can be found in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Order Anura:
Order anura basically contains frogs. Frogs are short bodied tailless amphibians. Molecular dating says that frogs may have been present up until 265 million years ago. They can live in tropic and subarctic regions.
Example One: The red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) spends the majority of its life in trees. They have a bright green body with blue stripes. They are also distinguishable by there big red eyes and thin black pupils. During the day they remain motionless and use camouflage to hide themselves.
Example Two: The European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) is native to Europe. There skin is mildly bumpy and is suited for a somewhat aquatic lifestyle. The skin will also use poison to protect itself from prey and bacteria.
Example Two: The European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) is native to Europe. There skin is mildly bumpy and is suited for a somewhat aquatic lifestyle. The skin will also use poison to protect itself from prey and bacteria.
Order Apoda:
Order Apoda are amphibians that resemble earth worms. They live under ground and are know to be found in the tropics of South and Central America, Africa, and southern Asia.
Example One: The Mexican burrowing caecilian (Dermophis mexicanus) is an amphibian without limbs. It can be found in south and central Mexico under leaves. Its behaviors resemble those of an everyday earthworm.
Example Two: The Ceylon caecilian or common yellow-banded caecilian (Ichthyophis glutinous) is found in Sri Lanka. It lives in the tropical and subtropical pastures. Its skin is composed of 300 layers of folded skin. They also resemble earthworms, but are larger.
Example Two: The Ceylon caecilian or common yellow-banded caecilian (Ichthyophis glutinous) is found in Sri Lanka. It lives in the tropical and subtropical pastures. Its skin is composed of 300 layers of folded skin. They also resemble earthworms, but are larger.
Class Reptilia:
Class Reptilia is composed of turtles, snakes, lizards, and other existing and extinct creatures. They are found on all continents except Antarctica. The are "tetrapod vertebrates" meaning they have four limbs.