List of chordate orders

Spotted gar, Lepisosteus oculatus

This article contains a list of all of the classes and orders that are located in the Phylum Chordata.

Subphylum Cephalochordate[]

Class Leptocardii: Lancelets[]

Lancelet Branchiostoma lanceolatum

Order Amphioxiformes

Family Pikaiidae †[]

Genus Pikaia †

Olfactores (unranked)[]

Subphylum Tunicate[]

Class Ascidiacea: Ascideans and sessile tunicates[]

Chelyosoma macleayanum

Order Enterogona
Order Pleurogona
Order Aspiraculata

Class Thaliacea: Pelagic tunicates[]

Order Doliolida
Order Pyrosomida
Order Salpida: salps

Class Appendicularia: Solitary, free-swimming tunicates[]

Order Copelata

Subphylum Vertebrates[]

Infraphylum Cyclostomata, Superclass Agnatha: Paraphyletic jawless vertebrates[]

Class Myxini: Hagfish[]

Order Myxiniformes
- - Family Myxinidae

Class Hyperoartia: Lampreys and their † kin[]

Order Petromyzontiformes

Infraphylum Gnathostomata: Jawed vertebrates[]

Bothriolepis canadensis

Class Placodermi †[]

Order Acanthothoraci
Order Arthrodira
Order Antiarchi
Order Brindabellaspida
Order Petalichthyida
Order Phyllolepida
Order Ptyctodontida
Order Rhenanida
Order Pseudopetalichthyida (The placement of this order is debated.)
Order Stensioellida (The placement of this monotypic order is debated.)

Class Chondrichthyes: Cartilaginous fish[]

Dogfish shark

Pristiophorus japonicus

Subclass Elasmobranchii
- Superorder Batoidea
  - Order Rajiformes: rays and skates
  - Order Pristiformes: sawfishes
  - Order Torpediniformes: electric rays
  - Order Myliobatiformes: (sting)rays
- Superorder Selachimorpha (sharks)
  - Order Heterodontiformes: bullhead sharks
  - Order Orectolobiformes: carpet sharks
  - Order Carcharhiniformes: ground sharks
  - Order Lamniformes: mackerel sharks
- Order Hexanchiformes: frilled and cow sharks
  - Order Squaliformes: dogfish sharks
  - Order Squatiniformes: angel sharks
  - Order Pristiophoriformes: saw sharks
Subclass Holocephali
- Order Chimaeriformes: chimaeras

Class Acanthodii †[]

Acanthodes

Superclass Osteichthyes: Bony fish[]

Class Actinopterygii: Ray-finned fish[]

Atlantic sturgeon

Order Asarotiformes †
Order Discordichthyiformes †
Order Paphosisciformes †
Order Scanilepiformes †
Order Cheirolepidiformes †
Order Paramblypteriformes †
Order Rhadinichthyiformes †
Order Palaeonisciformes †
Order Tarrasiiformes †
Order Pachycormiformes †
Order Ptycholepiformes †
Order Redfieldiiformes †
Order Haplolepidiformes †
Order Aeduelliformes †
Order Platysomiformes †
Order Dorypteriformes †
Order Eurynotiformes †

Subclass Cladistii

Order Polypteriformes

Subclass Chondrostei

Order Acipenseriformes: sturgeons and paddlefishes

Subclass Neopterygii

Lepisosteus oculatus

Eurypharynx pelecanoides

Argyropelecus aculeatus

Infraclass Holostei
- Order Lepisosteiformes, the gars
- Order Amiiformes, the bowfins
Infraclass Teleostei
Superorder Osteoglossomorpha
- Order Osteoglossiformes, the bony-tongued fishes
- Order Hiodontiformes, including the mooneye and goldeye
- Order
- Order Ichthyodectiformes †
Superorder Elopomorpha
- Order Elopiformes, including the ladyfishes and tarpon
- Order Albuliformes, the bonefishes
- Order Notacanthiformes, including the halosaurs and spiny eels
- Order Anguilliformes, the true eels and gulpers
- Order Saccopharyngiformes, including the gulper eel
Superorder Clupeomorpha
- Order Clupeiformes, including herrings and anchovies
Superorder Ostariophysi
- Order Gonorynchiformes, including the milkfishes
- Order Cypriniformes, including barbs, carp, danios, goldfishes, loaches, minnows, rasboras
- Order Characiformes, including characins, pencilfishes, hatchetfishes, piranhas, tetras.
- Order Gymnotiformes, including electric eels and knifefishes
- Order Siluriformes, the catfishes
Superorder Protacanthopterygii
- Order Salmoniformes, including salmon and trout
- Order Esociformes the pike
- Order Osmeriformes, including the smelts and galaxiids
Superorder Stenopterygii
- Order Ateleopodiformes, the jellynose fish
- Order Stomiiformes, including the bristlemouths and marine hatchetfishes
Superorder Cyclosquamata
- Order Aulopiformes, including the Bombay duck and lancetfishes
Superorder Scopelomorpha
- Order Myctophiformes, including the lanternfishes
Superorder Lampridiomorpha
- Order Lampriformes, including the oarfish, opah and ribbonfishes
Superorder Polymyxiomorpha
- Order Polymixiiformes, the beardfishes
Superorder Paracanthopterygii
- Order Percopsiformes, including the cavefishes and trout-perches
- Order Batrachoidiformes, the toadfishes
- Order Lophiiformes, including the anglerfishes
- Order Gadiformes, including cods
- Order Ophidiiformes, including the pearlfishes
Superorder Acanthopterygii
- Order Mugiliformes, the mullets
- Order Atheriniformes, including silversides and rainbowfishes
- Order Beloniformes, including the flyingfishes
- Order Cetomimiformes, the whalefishes
- Order Cyprinodontiformes, including livebearers, killifishes
- Order Stephanoberyciformes, including the ridgeheads
- Order Beryciformes, including the fangtooths and pineconefishes
- Order Zeiformes, including the dories
- Order Gobiesociformes, the clingfishes^[1]
- Order Gasterosteiformes including sticklebacks, pipefishes, seahorses
- Order Syngnathiformes, including the seahorses and pipefishes^[2]
- Order Synbranchiformes, including the swamp eels
- Order Tetraodontiformes, including the filefishes and pufferfish
- Order Pleuronectiformes, the flatfishes
- Order Scorpaeniformes, including scorpionfishes and the sculpins
- Order Perciformes 40% of all fish including anabantids, centrarchids (incl. bass and sunfish), cichlids, gobies, gouramis, mackerel, perches, scats, whiting, wrasses

Class Sarcopterygii: Lobe-finned fish[]

West Indian Ocean coelacanth

Subclass Actinistia (coelacanths)
- Order Coelacanthiformes, the coelacanth
Subclass Dipnoi (lungfish)
- Order Ceratodontiformes
- Order Lepidosireniformes

Superclass Tetrapoda[]

Class Amphibia: Amphibians[]

- Order Urodela or Caudata (salamanders)
- Order Anura (frogs and toads)
- Order Gymnophiona or Apoda (caecilians)

Class Reptilia: Reptiles[]

Saltwater crocodile

Subclass Diapsida
- Infraclass Archosauromorpha
  - Superorder Crocodylomorpha
    - Order Crocodilia (Crocodilians)
- Infraclass Lepidosauromorpha
  - Superorder Lepidosauria
    - Order Rhynchocephalia (tuataras)
    - Order Squamata (lizards, snakes)
Subclass Anapsida
- Order Testudines (turtles and their kin)

Class Aves: Birds[]

Southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), a flightless bird

Subclass Neornithes
Infraclass Palaeognathae
- Order Apterygiformes kiwis
- Order Casuariiformes cassowaries and emu
- Order Rheiformes rheas
- Order Struthioniformes, ostriches
- Order Tinamiformes, tinamous
Infraclass Neognathae
- Superorder Galloanserae (fowl)
  - Order Anseriformes, waterfowl
  - Order Galliformes, fowl
- Superorder Neoaves
  - Order Sphenisciformes, penguins
  - Order Gaviiformes, loons
  - Order Podicipediformes, grebes
  - Order Procellariiformes, albatrosses, petrels, and allies
  - Order Pelecaniformes, pelicans and allies
  - Order Ciconiiformes, storks and allies
  - Order Phoenicopteriformes, flamingos
  - Order Accipitriformes, eagles, hawks and allies (taxonomists have traditionally placed these groups in the Falconiformes)
  - Order Falconiformes, falcons
  - Order Opisthocomiformes, hoatzin (this enigmatic bird was traditionally treated as a family within either the Galliformes or Cuculiformes)
  - Order Gruiformes, cranes and allies
  - Order Charadriiformes, plovers and allies
  - Order Pterocliformes, sandgrouse (this enigmatic group was traditionally treated as a family in any of three different orders: Charadriiformes, Ciconiiformes, and Columbiformes)
  - Order Columbiformes, doves and pigeons
  - Order Psittaciformes, parrots and allies
  - Order Cuculiformes, cuckoos
  - Order Strigiformes, owls
  - Order Caprimulgiformes, nightjars and allies
  - Order Apodiformes, swifts
  - Order Coliiformes, mousebirds
  - Order Trogoniformes, trogons
  - Order Coraciiformes, kingfishers
  - Order Piciformes, woodpeckers and allies
  - Order Passeriformes, passerines

Class Mammalia: Mammals[]

Subclass Prototheria
- Order Monotremata, monotremes
Subclass Theria
- Infraclass Marsupialia
  - Order Didelphimorphia, opossums
  - Order Paucituberculata, rat opossums
  - Order Microbiotheria, monito del monte
  - Order Dasyuromorphia, marsupial carnivores
  - Order Peramelemorphia, marsupial omnivores
  - Order Notoryctemorphia, marsupial moles
  - Order Diprotodontia, marsupial herbivores; kangaroos, wallabies, possums and allies
- Infraclass Eutheria
  - Magnorder Atlantogenata
    - Superorder Afrotheria
      - Grandorder Afrosoricida
        Order Afrosoricida, tenrecs and golden moles
        
        Order Macroscelidea, elephant shrews
        
        Order Tubulidentata, aardvark
      - Grandorder Paenungulata
        Order Hyracoidea, hyraxes
        
        Mirorder Tethytheria
        Order Proboscidea, elephants
        
        Order Sirenia, manatees and dugongs
    - Superorder Xenarthra
      - Order Cingulata, armadillos
      - Order Pilosa, sloths and anteaters
  - Magnorder Boreoeutheria
    - Superorder Laurasiatheria
      - Order Eulipotyphla, hedgehogs, shrews, moles
      - Grandorder Ferungulata
        Order Cetartiodactyla, cetaceans and even-toed ungulates
        
        Clade Pegasoferae
        Order Chiroptera, bats
        
        Mirorder Zooamata
        Order Perissodactyla, odd-toed ungulates; horses, rhinos, tapirs
        
        Clade Ferae
        Order Pholidota, pangolins
        
        Order Carnivora, carnivores; cats, dogs, bears, seals, sea lions and others
        
        Order †Creodonta hyaenodontidae hyeanodon, dissopsalis, sarkastostodon, and megistotherium.
    - Superorder Euarchontoglires
      - Grandorder Euarchonta
        Mirorder Sundatheria
        Order Dermoptera, colugos
        
        Order Scandentia, treeshrews
        
        Mirorder Primatomorpha
        Order Primates, lemurs, monkeys, apes and allies
      - Grandorder Glires
        Order Rodentia, rodents
        
        Order Lagomorpha, rabbits, hares and pikas

References[]

^ In ITIS, Gobiesociformes is placed as the suborder Gobiesocoidei of the order Perciformes.
^ In Nelson and ITIS, Syngnathiformes is placed as the suborder Syngnathoidei of the order Gasterosteiformes.

[1] In ITIS, Gobiesociformes is placed as the suborder Gobiesocoidei of the order Perciformes.

[2] In Nelson and ITIS, Syngnathiformes is placed as the suborder Syngnathoidei of the order Gasterosteiformes.

[1]

[2]