prechordal
/priːˈkɔːdl/adjective
1 Embryology and Anatomy. Situated or occurring in front of the anterior end of the notochord.
2 Biology. Occurring prior to the evolution of the notochord or of the chordates; lacking a notochord. Compare prechordate rare.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. From pre- + chorda + -al.