Chordates<span> are eucoelomate deuterostomes, and probably share a common ancestor with </span>echinoderms<span>. Three important characteristics unite the Phylum </span>Chordata<span>. At some point in their life cycle, all </span>chordates<span> have a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, and pharyngeal gill slits.</span>
Deuterostomes include both phyla echinoderms and chordates, which includes the vertebrates.
Echinoderms and Chordates are more closely related to each other than they are to other animals because the coelom ( an open fluid-filled body cavity lined with tissues) found in the animals of this phylum is made from the digestive tube & the endoskeleton present in the body are composed of 95% of calcium carbonate just like present in chordates.
