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Question
Give three major differences between chordates and non-chordates and draw a schematic sketch of a chordate showing those features.
Diagram
Distinguish Between
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Solution
Animals belonging to phylum Chordata are fundamentally characterised by the presence of a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord and paired pharyngeal gill slits. These are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and coelomate with the organ-system level of organisation. They possess a post-anal tail and a closed circulatory system.
| S.No. | Chordates | Non - chordates |
| 1. | Notochord present. | Notochord absent. |
| 2. | Central nervous system is dorsal, hollow and single. | Central nervous system is ventral, solid and double. |
| 3. | Pharynx perforated by gill slits. | Gill slits are absent. |
| 4. | Heart is ventral. | Heart is dorsal (if present). |
| 5. | A post-anal part (tail) is present. | Post-anal tail is absent. |

Chordata characteristics
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