List of chordate orders

Last updated July 27, 2025

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

Subphylum Cephalochordata
Class Leptocardii: Lancelets
Subphylum Tunicata
Class Ascidiacea: Sessile tunicates
Class Thaliacea: Pelagic tunicates
Class Appendicularia: Solitary, free-swimming tunicates
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Agnatha: Jawless vertebrates
Infraphylum Gnathostomata: Jawed vertebrates
See also
References

The subphyla Tunicata and Vertebrata are in the unranked Olfactores clade, while the subphylum Cephalochordata is not. Animals in Olfactores are characterized as having a more advanced olfactory system than animals not in it.

The only extinct classes shown are Placodermi and Acanthodii. Note that there are many other extinct chordate groups that are not shown here.

Subphylum Cephalochordata

Class Leptocardii: Lancelets

Order Amphioxiformes

Subphylum Tunicata

Class Ascidiacea: Sessile tunicates

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 Vertebrata

Infraphylum Agnatha: Jawless vertebrates

Superclass Cyclostomata: Extant jawless vertebrates

Class Myxini: Hagfish

Order Myxiniformes

Class Hyperoartia: Lampreys

Order Petromyzontiformes

Infraphylum Gnathostomata: Jawed vertebrates

Class Placodermi: Armoured fish †

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

Subclass Elasmobranchii
- Superorder Batoidea
  - Order Rajiformes: rays and skates
  - Order Rhinopristiformes: 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: Spiny sharks †

Superclass Osteichthyes: Bony fish

Class Actinopterygii: Ray-finned fish

Atlantic sturgeon Sturgeon2.jpg — *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

Eurypharynx pelecanoides Eurypharynx.jpg — *Eurypharynx pelecanoides*

Argyropelecus aculeatus ArgyropelecusAculeatus.jpg — *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 Lycopteriformes
- 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

Subclass Actinistia (coelacanths)
- Order Coelacanthiformes
Subclass Dipnoi (lungfish)
- Order Ceratodontiformes

Superclass Tetrapoda: Four-limbed vertebrates

Class Amphibia: Amphibians

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

Class Reptilia: Reptiles

Saltwater crocodile SaltwaterCrocodile('Maximo').jpg — 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

Subclass Neornithes
- Infraclass Palaeognathae
  - Order Apterygiformes, kiwis
  - Order Casuariiformes, cassowaries and emu
  - Order Dinornithiformes †, moas
  - Order Rheiformes, rheas
  - Order Struthioniformes, ostriches
  - Order Tinamiformes, tinamous
- Infraclass Neognathae
  - Superorder Galloanserae (fowl)
    - Order Anseriformes, waterfowl
    - Order Gastornithiformes †, gastornis and mihirungs
    - 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 Cariamiformes, seriemas and terror birds
    - 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, pigeons and dodos
    - 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 (platypus and echidnas)
Subclass Theria
- Infraclass Marsupialia
  - Order Didelphimorphia, opossums
  - Order Paucituberculata, rat opossums
  - Order Microbiotheria, monito del monte
  - Order Dasyuromorphia, marsupial carnivores (quolls, numbats, Tasmanian devils and thylacines)
  - Order Peramelemorphia, marsupial omnivores (bandicoots and bilbies)
  - Order Notoryctemorphia, marsupial moles
  - Order Diprotodontia, marsupial herbivores; kangaroos, wallabies, possums, koalas and allies
  - Order Polydolopimorphia
- 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 Artiodactyla, cetaceans (dolphins and whales) and even-toed ungulates (giraffes, camels, pigs, cattles and deers)
        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, racoons, seals, 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 (rats, squirrels, capybaras and beavers)
        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.

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[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]

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