Chordates

/kɔːrˈdeɪts/ noun

Definition

Plural of chordate; any members of the phylum Chordata, including all animals with backbones and their relatives.

Etymology

Plural form of 'chordata,' from Latin 'chorda.' Used to refer to multiple individual animals or species within the phylum.

Kelly Says

Every single chordates—from lamprey eels to blue whales to you—inherited the same basic body plan from a tiny worm-like ancestor 500 million years ago!

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