Cephalochordata
By Aleasha Connors, Molly Labenski, Savannah Turple, &
Rose Walls
Introduction
—  Lancelets or amphioxus
—  Buried in sand
—  Crucial in morphology and evolution
—  26 species
Evolution of the Taxon
—  Precursors to modern fish
—  55 million years ago
—  Four distinguishing characteristics
Four Distinguishing
Characteristics
1  The Notochord
2  A Dorsal Hollow Nerve Chord
3  Gill slits in the Pharynx
4  Post Anal Tail
Characteristics
—  ~5 cm long
—  Spawning at
sunset
—  Closed circulatory
system
Life Cycle
—  Sperm & Egg
—  Gradual development from larvae
—  2-5 year lifespan
—  Breeding season
Fun Facts!
—  Food in China
—  Important part of food chain
—  High population density
—  Closest invertebrate relatives
Sources
—  “Cephalochordata – Overview.” Encyclopedia of Life.
N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2013. <http://
eolpages/1575/overview>.
—  Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.infoplease/com/encyclopedia/
science/chordata-subphylumcephalochordata.html>.
—  “Introduction to the Cephalochordata.” Introduction
to the Cephalochordata. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar.
013. <http://www.ucmp.berkely.edu/chordata/
cephalo.html>.
Sources
—  “Result Filters.” National Center for Biotechnology
Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine,
n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2013. <http://
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15883887>.
—  “SUBPHYLUM CEPHALOCHORDATA.” Natural
History
Collections: Cephalochordata. N.p., n.d.
Web. 26 Feb. 2013. <http:www.nhc.ed.ac.uk/
index.php?
page=24.25.312.327>.