This is your phylum, my friend. Chordata includes all animals with a notochord (think: a primitive spine), including fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals. The weirdest part? You also share this phylum with tunicates — squishy sea creatures that look like bags. Yes, you and a sea squirt are literally in the same club.
Why it’s cool: We chordates are masters of mobility. We have internal skeletons that let us jump, swim, and fly. We’re the overachievers of the animal world.
Arthropoda: The Invaders
If you’re afraid of bugs, brace yourself. Arthropoda is the largest phylum, containing over 80% of all known animal species. Think insects, spiders, crabs, and centipedes. They all have exoskeletons (armor on the outside) and jointed legs.
Classification - MS. ANDERSON'S ZOOLOGY CLASS
Ever seen a butterfly? That’s an arthropod. That lobster you ate? Also an arthropod. They’re everywhere, and honestly, they run the planet. We just live in their world.
Mollusca: The Slippery Artists
These are the soft-bodied geniuses. Mollusca includes snails, clams, octopuses, and squids. Many have shells, but not all (sneaky slugs!). The octopus, however, is the rock star of this phylum.
Octopuses have three hearts, blue blood, and can change color in a flash. They’re so smart they can open jars and solve puzzles. It’s humbling to know a mollusk might be smarter than your dog.
