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chordate
An animal with a notochord (a cartilaginous rod that extends the length of the body), dorsal hollow nerve cord (a fluid-filled tube that runs the length of the body), gill slits or pouches, and a tail at some stage in its life cycle. Chordates (the group name is Chordata) include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes– known collectively as vertebrates – and lancelets, acorn worms, and sea squirts (tunicates).
The basic chordate features are shown clearly by the larva of a sea squirt. It has a hollow dorsal nervous system, the tail is supported by a notochord, and though the gut is not well developed (the larva does not feed) it usually has a pair of gill slits.
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• ZOOLOGY
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