Animals that belong in this phylum contain a notochord, nerve cord and a tail (at one point of their development). Nearly all vertebrates. Chordates include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

 

Class Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)

 

These fish have flexible skeletons made of cartilage instead of bone and have developed fins and jaws. The use their gills to breathe and some lay eggs while some produce live young. Examples include: shark and stingrays.

 

Class Osteichthyes (Bony Fish)

 

These fish have pure bone skeletons, they also breathe through their gills and lay eggs in a large quantity at a time which don't contain shells. They can be found in both freshwater and marine environments. Examples are tuna, bass and trout.

 

Class Amphibia

 

These animals can adapt to both land and water. Their eggs lack shells and must be laid in water. They have an aquatic larval stage during their development and go through metamorphosis into terrestrial adult. They breath through lungs. Examples are frogs and salamanders.

 

Class Reptilia

 

Animals in this class are terrestrial with thick and scaly skin which helps resist water loss. They live dry areas but some can be found in water. Their eggs contain shells which helps resist dehydration or they can bare live young, they use lungs to breathe and some examples include: crocodiles, snakes and lizards.

 

Class Aves (Birds)

 

Birds are animals with forelimbs which are modified and are used a wings. They breathe using lungs and lay eggs with shells which eventually hatch. They are also endothermic (an organism that generates heat to maintain its temperature). Examples are owls, sparrows and eagles.

 

Class Mammalia

 

Mammals are known to be endothermic, they have hair, and nourish their young from mammary glands which can be found in breasts. They breathe using lung. Most produce live young. Examples are humans, antelope, kangaroos and rodents (rats).