Phylogenetic classification of Life,
with emphasis on Phylum Chordata
Categories:

K = Kingdom
    P = Phylum
       C = Class
        O = Order     [fish and birds orders all end in -iformes]
                [Note: the single-letter codes included in the table below are for identification only,
                             they should not be given as part of the name]
S = super-
    s = sub-
       i = infra-
* = extinct group

Geological periods [square brackets] of earliest appearance in the fossil record


Five Kingdom classification [Alternatives]

Prokaryota
    K Monera
    K Protista
Eukaryota
    K Fungi
    K Plantae
    K Animalia
        Parazoa
                       P Porifera
        Eumetazoa
            Radiata
                        P Cnidaria
            Bilateria
                Accoelmata
                        P Platyhelminthes
                Pseudocoelmata
                    Nematoda
                Coelomata
                    Protostoma
                        P Mollusca
                        P Annelida
                        P Arthropoda
                    Deuterostomata
                        P Echinodermata
                        P Hemichordata
                        P Chordata [see next section]


P Chordata [Vendian]
     sP Urochordata
     sP Cephalochordata
     Craniata
                                                                                                                       O Myxiniformes [? Carboniferous]
     sP Vertebrata [Cambrian] [Website from U Michigan]
          Agnatha
               *Ostracodermi [Ordovician]
                                                                                                                       O Petromyzontiformes [?]
          [? -> Carboniferous]
       Gnathostomata [Silurian]
               C *Placodermi [Silurian - Carboniferous]
               C Chondrichthyes [Silurian]
                                                                                                                       O Squaliformes [Silurian / Devonian]
                                                                                                                       O Rajiformes [?]
                                                                                                                       O Chimaeriformes [Devonian]
               Teleostomi / Osteichthyes [Icthylogy Web Resource]
                    sC Actinopterygii [Silurian]
                                                                                                                       "Chondrostei" [Devonian]
                                                                                                                              O Polypteriformes       - Polypterus, bichir
                                                                                                                               O Acipenseriformes   - Polyodon,   paddlefish
                                                                                                                                               " "                  - Acipenser,  sturgeon

                                                                                                                       "Holostei"
                                                                                                                               O Lepisosteiformes  - Lepisosteus, gar
                                                                                                                               O Amiaformes           - Amia, bowfin

                                                                                                                       "Teleostei" [Cretaceous]
                                                                                                                           ca. 38 "bony fish" orders

                                                                                                                           Elopomorpha, including
                                                                                                                                O Anguilliformes      - eels

                                                                                                                           Clupeomorpha, including
                                                                                                                                O Clupeiformes        - herring, shad, sardines

                                                                                                                            Euteleostei, including
                                                                                                                                Ostariophysi, including
                                                                                                                                     O Cypriniformes     - minnows
                                                                                                                                     O Siluriformes         - catfish
                                                                                                                                O Cyprinidontiformes  - guppies
                                                                                                                                O Salmoniformes         - salmon, trout, pike, smelt
                                                                                                                                O Gadiformes              - cod
                                                                                                                                O Perciformes             - perch & many others

                    sC Sarcopterygii [Devonian]
                                                                                                                       Crossopterygii
                                                                                                                       Dipnoi [Devonian]
                         Tetrapoda [Devonian]
                             sC Lissamphibia [Permian]
                                                                                                                       O Anura [Triassic]
                                                                                                                       O Caudata [Jurassic]
                                                                                                                       O Apoda [? Tertiary]
                              Amniota [Carboniferous]
                                   Anapsida
                                                                                                                       O Chelonia [Permian]
                                   Diapsida
                                                                                                                       O Rhynchocephalia [Triassic]
                                                                                                            SO Lepidosauria [Jurassic]
                                                                                                                       O Amphisbaenia [?]
                                                                                                                       O Lacertilia [Jurassic]
                                                                                                                       O Ophidia [Jurassic]
                                                                                                            SO Archosauria [Triassic]
                                                                                                                       O Crocodilia [Jurassic]
                                                                                                                         Neornithes [Jurassic] = C Aves
                                                                                                                               ca. 28 "bird" orders
                                   Synapsida [Permian]
                                                                                                            Mammalia [Triassic] [Website from U Michigan]
                                                                                                                   sC Prototheria [Triassic]
                                                                                                                             O Monotremata [?]
                                                                                                                   sC Theria
                                                                                                                         iC Metatheria [Jurassic]
                                                                                                                             O Marsupialia
                                                                                                                         iC Eutheria [Cretaceous]
                                                                                                                             ca. 20 "placental" orders
                                                                                                                                  Primata


Text © 2005 by Steven M. Carr