Summary:
- The phylum Chordata consists of both invertebrate and vertebrate chordates.
- Chordates include vertebrates and invertebrates that have a notochord.
- They also have a post-anal tail, dorsal hollow nerve cord, and pharyngeal slits.
- In humans, these four traits are present only during the embryonic stage.
- After that, some of the traits disappear or develop into other organs.Adult humans lack some of these defining traits of the chordate phylum.