Chordates
Chordata is a phylum that includes animals with backbones or spinal CHORDS. This phylum includes familiar groups fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Chordates have pharyngeal slits (openings the inside of the throat to the neck), a dorsal nerve cord (connects the brain with the rest of the body through nerves, a notochord ( a supporting nerve cord), and post-anal tail (an extension of the body near the anus).