Chordata

Chor·da·ta

noun pl \kȯr-ˈdät-ə, -ˈdāt-ə\

Definition of CHORDATA

: a phylum comprising animals having at least at some stage of development a more or less well-developed notochord, a dorsally situated central nervous system, and gill clefts in the walls of the pharynx and including the vertebrates, lancelets, and tunicates

—chor·date \ˈkȯ(ə)r-ˌdāt, ˈkȯrd-ət\ noun or adjective