difference between protochordata and euchordata

Protochordates are also called Acraniata due to lack of head and cranium. Euchordates are called Craniata due to the presence of head and cranium. Protochordates are exclusively marine with small bodies, whereas euchordates are found in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats and have large-sized bodies.

1. Why Urochordata and Cephalochordata are called Protochordata?
2. What are the differences between Urochordata and Cephalochordata?
3. What is the difference between Protochordates and chordates?
4. What is difference between vertebrata and Protochordata?
5. What are the characteristics of Protochordata?
6. Is Protochordata and Hemichordata same?
7. What does Urochordata mean?
8. What is a key difference between the subphylum Urochordata and vertebrata?
9. Where is notochord found in Urochordates?

Why Urochordata and Cephalochordata are called Protochordata?

Phylum chordata of animal kingdom is divided into 2 sub-groups protochordata/acraniata(without brain box or cranium) and euchordata/craniata( cranium is present). Urochordata and cephalochordata which are acraniates are considered as primitive and often referred to as protochordates or non-vertebrate chordates.

What are the differences between Urochordata and Cephalochordata?

The main difference between Urochordata and Cephalochordata is that Urochordata consists of a notochord extended in the head region whereas Cephalochordata contains the notochord in the posterior region of the body.

What is the difference between Protochordates and chordates?

The main difference between chordates and protochordates is that the chordates are the animals that have distinct characteristics such as a notochord, dorsal nerve chord, pharyngeal slits, and a muscular tail whereas the protochordates are an informal group of invertebrates within chordates.

What is difference between vertebrata and Protochordata?

Differentiate between Protochordates and Vertebrata? Vertebrates are animals with backbone and spinal cord whereas protochordates are the informal name given to invertebrates that have notochord, dorsal nerve cord and pharyngeal slits.

What are the characteristics of Protochordata?

Characteristics of Protochordata

• They are generally found in marine water.
• Their body is bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, and coelomated.
• At a certain stage of their lives, their body develops a long, rod-like structure for support called the notochord.
• They exhibit organ system level of organization.

Is Protochordata and Hemichordata same?

Hemichordata is not same as protochordata as notochord is present in protochordata but absent in hemichordata. Protochordata and vertebrata are sub-phylum of Chordata. There are so much difference in both as listed below.

What does Urochordata mean?

: a subphylum or other division of Chordata comprising the tunicates and including the classes Ascidiacea, Thaliacea, and Larvacea.

What is a key difference between the subphylum Urochordata and vertebrata?

In Urochordata,the notochord, nerve cord, and postanal tail is only found in the larval stage. So they don't have these chordate characteristics as adults. In Cephalochordata,notochord is extended in head region and shows throuhout their life. Vertebrates are obviously very different because they have vertebrae.

Where is notochord found in Urochordates?

Urochordates, like Herdmania have notochord and nerve cord present only in nerve stages. Body is covered by a test made up of tunicin. Notochord is present only in tail. Tadpole undergoes retrogressive metamorphosis and notochord and nerve cord is absent in adults, which is lost during metamorphosis.