Possession of a notochord.

The following are all four defining chordate characteristics:

  1. Notochord (chordate characteristic "1")
  2. Dorsal, hollow nerve chord (chordate characteristic "2")
  3. Pharyngeal clefts or pharyngeal slits (chordate characteristic "3")
  4. Post-anal muscular tail (chordate characteristic "4")

See also phylum Chordata.

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