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Bottlenose Dolphins
Payton McCallister
Phylum Description
Chordata, is the Phylum of dolphins. All organisms in the phylum share four major similarities in characteristics.
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A notochord
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A flexible, rod-shaped structure that is found in the embryonic stage of all chordates, as well as in the adult stage of some chordate species
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A dorsal hollow nerve cord
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Derives from echinoderm that rolls into a hollow tube during development. In chordates, it is located dorsally, opposed to most animals that are located either ventrally or laterally.
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Pharyngeal slits
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Openings in the pharynx, that extend to the outside environment
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Post-anal tail
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A tail extending beyond the anus. Source of locomotion
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Other Chordata animals include:
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Jawless fish
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Cartilaginous fish (shark)
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Bony fish
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Amphibians
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Reptiles
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Birds
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Mammals
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