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Chordates (ZOO 365) Classification of The Vertebrata

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30 views14 pages

Chordates (ZOO 365) Classification of The Vertebrata

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timileyin
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CHORDATES

ZOO 365
SUB-PHYLUM
VERTEBRATA
CLASSIFICATION OF THE VERTEBRATES
• The Vertebrata are classified into:
– Superclass Agnatha (jawless fish)
– Superclass Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates)
Superclass Agnatha
• Class Cyclostomata (lampreys and hagfishes)
– Order Petromyzontia (or Hyperoartii)
– Order Myxinoidea (or Hyperotreti)

• Class Ostracodermi (extinct)


Superclass Gnathostomata
• Class Placodermi (armoured fishes, extinct)
• Class Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish)
– Subclass Elasmobranchii
– Subclass Holocephali
• Class Osteichthyes (bony fish)
• Class Amphibia (amphibians)
– Order Anura
– Order Urodela
– Order Gymnophiona/Apoda
• Class Reptilia (reptiles)
– Order Crocodilia
– Order Testudinata
– Order Squamata
– Order Rhynchocephalia
Superclass Gnathostomata
Class Aves (Birds)
• Subclass Archaeminthes (extinct)
• Subclass Neornithes
– Superorder Odontognathae (extinct)
– Superorder Palaegnathae
• Order Struthioniformes
• Order Tinamiformes
– Superorder Neognathae
• Order Anseriformes (waterfowl)
• Order Galliformes (fowl)
Superclass Gnathostomata
Class Aves (Birds)
• Order Charadriiformes (gulls, button-quails)
• Order Gaviiformes (loons)
• Order Podicipediformes (grebes)
• Order Procellariiformes (albatrosses)
• Order Sphenisciformes (penguins)
• Order Pelecaniformes (pelicans)
• Order Phaethontiformes (tropicbirds)
• Order Ciconiiformes (storks)
• Order Cathartiformes (New World vultures)
Class Aves (cont’d)
• Order Phoenicopteriformes (flamingos)
• Order Falconiformes (falcons, eagles, hawks)
• Order Gruiformes (cranes)
• Order Pteroclidiformes (sandgrouse)
• Order Columbiformes (doves and pigeons)
• Order Psittaciformes (parrots)
• Order Cuculiformes (cuckoos and turacos)
• Order Opisthocomiformes (hoatzin)
Class Aves (cont’d)
• Order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars)
• Order Apodiformes (swifts and hummingbirds)
• Order Coraciiformes (kingfishers)
• Order Piciformes (woodpeckers)
• Order Trogoniformes (trogons)
• Order Coliiformes (mousebirds)
• Order Passeriformes (passerines)
• Order Strigiformes (owls)
Class Mammalia
• Subclass Prototheria
• Subclass Theria
• Infraclass Metatheria
Infraclass Eutheria
• Order Proboscidea (elephants)
• Order Sirenia (manatee, dugong)
• Order Carnivora (dogs, cats, lions)
• Order Edentata (anteaters, sloth
• Order Artiodactyla (cows, sheep, pigs)
• Order Cetacea (whales, dolphins)
Infraclass Eutheria
• Order Perissodactyla (horses, zebra)
• Order Chiroptera (bats)
• Order Insectivora (shrews, moles)
• Order Rodentia (rats, mice)
• Order Lagormorpha (rabbit, hares)
• Order Primates (monkeys, apes, humans).
Classification of the Vertebrata (cont’d)
• As shown above, two superclasses namely Agnatha
(jawless vertebrates) and Gnathostomata (jawed
vertebrates) emerged from the subphylum
Vertebrata.
• The Gnathostomata are grouped into two based
on the diversity of their habits, form and structure.
– These include the fishes also known as Pisces
(Placodermi, Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes);
– And the tetrapods i.e. animals with four limbs
(Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia).
Classification of the Vertebrata (cont’d)
• The vast majority of chordates have a skull enclosing
sensory organs such as the brain, eyes, inner ear, etc.
and hence the name Craniata.
• All craniates, with the exception of one group i.e. the
hagfishes; have their notochord modified into a
vertebral column or backbone.
– So while the hagfishes have a cartilaginous skull, they
however lack a backbone.
– That explains why some authors prefer to name the
Subphyla, Craniata from which Vertebrata emerges as a
superclass.
Classification of the Vertebrata (cont’d)
• Based on the classification above, the jawless agnathans
are considered as the ancestors of the jawed vertebrates;
– The cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes) gave rise to the
bony fishes (Osteichthyes), which in turn are said to have
given rise to the land/terrestrial vertebrates.
– On land, the amphibians gave rise to the reptiles and the
reptiles in turn gave rise to both birds and mammals.
• The amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are
referred to as tetrapods on account of having four limbs.
• The reptiles and mammals are referred to as amniota
because they have an amniotic membrane.

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