•Animals with backbone (or notochord in primitive forms)•Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals

GEOLOGY OF THE WORLD’S OCEANS

Marine Life Survey III – Phylum Chordata

Chordata“Agnaths” - Lack vertebrae

Hagfish (“Slime Eels”)

Scavengers

Lamprey

Has vertebral columnLamprey - parasitic

ChordataPiscesChondrichthyes(Cartilaginous fish)

•Sharks, sawfish, rays•Carnivores

Hammerhead Shark

White Tip Shark

Nurse Shark

Sawfish

ChordataPiscesChondrichthyesRays

Manta RaysPlankton FeedersKomodo Island, Indonesia

Grouper

Top predator and importantcommercial species

ChordataPiscesOsteicthyesBony FIsh

Chordata

Reptilia

•Turtles

•Sea snakes

•Marine iguanas

•Salt water crocs

ChordataReptilia CheloniaSea Turtles

Grazers

ChordataReptiliaSea SnakesHighly Poisonous

!Life saving tip #16, avoid sea snakes, especially during the mating season!

ChordataMammalia

•Whales & Dolphins

•Manatees/Dugongs

•Sea Otters

•Seals, Sea Lions, & Walruses

•Polar Bears

ChordataMammaliaCetacea

Baleen WhalesToothed Whales

Blue Whale•baleen whale•largest animal on earth (ever)•plankton feeder

Killer Whales

Toothed Whales

Pack predators on whales and seals(“wolves of the sea”)

CetaceaDolphinsPiscivores

ChordataMammaliaSirenia

“Manatees”

Grazers

Sea OttersTool Users

ChordataMammaliaPinnipediaSeals, Sea Lions,and Walrus

Piscivores(also feed onSea Urchins)

Polar Bears

Chordata

Aves

•Penguins *

•Pelicans *, Gulls, Terns, Frigate Birds, etc.

*Piscivores

ChordataAvesJuvenile Frigate BirdsAlacranes Atoll, MEX

Gulls

and

Terns

ChordataAves

ChordataAves

Pelicans