Character Details
skull
skull, either cartilagenous or bony
specialized head structures
specialized head, with distinct brain, hearing, visual, and olfactory (smell) systems
cartilagenous endoskeleton
endoskeleton, cartilagenous in primitive forms, but in derived groups built either of bone or calcified cartilage
semicircular canals
semicircular canals in the ear for helping with balance
paired kidneys
paired kidneys and well-developed excretory system
well-developed circulatory system
well-developed circulation system and heart
lateral sensory system
lateral sensory system, involving sensory structures in grooves or canal across the head and down the body
caudal fin
caudal (tail) fin, strengthened by cartilagenous rods
+-Deuterostomata
+-Echinodermata
+-Hemichordata
+-Chordata
+-Urochordata
+-Cephalochordata
+-CRANIATA <<<<< Taxon for this page
+-Mixinoidea
+-Vertebrata
| +-Hyperoartia
| +-Jawless Fishes
+-Gnathostomata
+-Placodermi
+-Chondrichthyes
+-Teleostomi
+-Acanthodii
+-Osteichthyes
+-Actinopterygii
+-Sarcopterygii
| +-Coelacanthimorpha
| +-Dipnoi
+-Tetrapoda
+-Amphibia
+-Amniota
+-Synapsida
| +-Primitive Synapsids
| +-Mammalia
| +-Monotremata
| +-Marsupialia
| +-Eutheria
| +-Edentata
| +-Glires
| +-Archonta
| +-Insectivora
| +-Carnivora
| +-Ungulata
+-Reptilia
| +-Testudines
+-Diapsida
+-Primitive Diapsids
+-Sauria
+-Ichthyosauria
+-Sauropterygia
+-Lepidosauromorpha
+-Archosauromorpha
+-Crocodylomorpha
+-Pterosauria
+-Dinosauria
