Vertebrates
Think About It
Vertebrates have backbones. Predict what advantages a backbone may provide for an
organism. Write down or share your thoughts with another person.
Image Source: WikimediaLinks to an external site.
Structure and
Function
Animals are characterized into groups based on their different
structures. Each structure has a different function. As you read, think
about the unique structures and functions of each vertebrate group.
Vertebrates
Vertebrates are animals in Phylum Chordata. Modern vertebrates include fish,
amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. You can see examples of all these groups of
vertebrates in the figure below.
Image Source: CK-12Links to an external site.
Like all chordates, vertebrates are animals with four defining traits, at least during the
embryonic stage. The four traits are:
a notochord
a nerve cord
a tail
pharyngeal pouches
Vertebral Columns
The main trait that sets vertebrates apart from invertebrate chordates is their vertebral
column, or backbone. It develops from the notochord after the embryonic stage. As you
can see in the figure below, the vertebral column runs from head to tail along the top
(dorsal) side of the body. The vertebral column is made up of repeating units of bone
called vertebrae (vertebra, singular). The vertebral column helps the vertebrate body
hold its shape. It also protects the spinal (nerve) cord that runs through it.
Image Source: WikimediaLinks to an external site.
Fish
Fish are aquatic vertebrates. They make up more than half of all living vertebrate
species. Most fish are cold-blooded. They share several adaptations that suit them for
life in the water.
Image Source: PixabayLinks to an external site.
Fish are covered with scales. Scales are overlapping tissues, like shingles on a roof.
They reduce friction with the water. They also provide a flexible covering that lets fish
move their body to swim.
Fish have gills. Gills are organs behind the head that absorb oxygen from water.
Water enters through the mouth, passes over the gills, and then exits the body.
Fish typically have a streamlined body. This reduces water resistance.
Most fish have fins. Fins function like paddles or rudders. They help fish swim and
navigate in the water.
Most fish have a swim bladder. This is a balloon-like organ containing gas. By
inflating or deflating their swim bladder, fish can rise or sink in the water.
Amphibians
Amphibians are vertebrates that live part of the time in freshwater and part of the time
on land. They were the first vertebrates to evolve four legs and come on land. They
most likely evolved from lobe-finned fish. Modern amphibians include frogs, toads,
salamanders, newts, and caecilians. They are cold-blooded, so they have little control
over their body temperature. This allows them to be active in warm weather, but they
become sluggish when the temperature cools.
Image Source: WikimediaLinks to an external site.
Golden toads, like the one pictured above, haven’t been seen since 1989. It’s feared
that this beautiful and unusual amphibian has gone extinct. It’s just one example of a
much larger problem. As many as one-third of all amphibian species are presently at risk
of extinction. Reasons include loss of habitat, pollution, and climate change. Amphibians
are especially sensitive to such changes because their skin easily absorbs substances
from the environment, such as pollutants in water or air.
Reptiles
Image Source: WikimediaLinks to an external site.
Figure: Like other reptiles, this tree viper snake is covered with overlapping, waterproof
scales.
Reptiles are cold-blooded, four-legged vertebrates that produce amniotic
eggs. Amniotic eggs have waterproof membranes to prevent them from drying out. This
freed them from returning to the water to reproduce. In addition to amniotic eggs,
reptiles have several other adaptations for living on land. For example, reptile skin is
covered with scales. Reptile scales are made of very tough keratin. They help protect
reptiles from injury as well as loss of water.
The reptile class is one of the largest classes of vertebrates. Besides turtles, it includes
crocodiles, alligators, lizards, and snakes. Although some turtles and other reptiles now
live mainly in the water, reptiles evolved many adaptations for life on land.
For an amusing overview of reptiles, watch this Bill Nye the Science Guy reptile video:
Video: Reptiles
Source: Bill Nye
Expand AllPanels Collapse AllPanels
Video Transcript
Birds
Birds are four-limbed, warm-blooded vertebrates. The upper pair of limbs are wings
that most birds use for flying. The lower pair of limbs are legs with feet that birds use for
walking. Because birds walk on two legs, they are called bipedal. (Humans are bipedal
too.) Birds also have feathers and beaks, and they produce amniotic eggs.
Diversity of birds: (from left to right) Macaw, Lorikeet, Hummingbird, and Ostrich.
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site.)
Of all vertebrate classes, birds are the most numerous, even though they evolved most
recently. Why have birds been so successful? The answer is flight. Being able to fly
opened up a whole new world to birds: the world of the air above the land and water.
Mammals
The dogs in the figure below are playing. Most mammals engage in play, especially
when they’re young. Play is just one of many complex behaviors displayed by mammals.
Mammals are amazing vertebrates, and they include you.
Image Source: WikimediaLinks to an external site.
Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates with four limbs. Examples of mammals include
bats, whales, mice, and humans. Clearly, mammals are a very diverse
group. Nonetheless, they share several traits that set them apart from other vertebrates.
Defining Mammals
Two traits are used to define the mammal class. They are fur or hair and mammary
glands in females.
All mammals have fur or hair on their skin. It provides insulation and helps keep the
body warm. It also can be used for sensing. For example, cats can feel with their
whiskers.
All female mammals have mammary glands. Mammary glands are glands that
produce milk after the birth of offspring. The colt (figure below) is getting milk from its
mother.
Image Source: WikimediaLinks to an external site.
Figure: A colt gets milk from his mother.
Apply It
Compare the five groups of vertebrates by completing the graphic organizer. In each
box, list characteristics of that type of animal.
Analyze It
Read the summary below and watch: “Pangolin: World’s Weirdest” by Nat Geo Wild to
learn more about the pangolin. Then complete the CER chart to make an argument
identifying the animal type of the pangolin. How would you classify it? Is it a reptile?
Mammal? Invertebrate?
Video: Pangolin
Source: Nat Geo WILD
Pangolins have large, overlapping protective scales covering their skin. Pangolins are
nocturnal meaning they are active at night. They are anteaters and consume mostly ants
and termites using their long tongues. They tend to be solitary animals, meeting only to
mate and produce a litter of one to three offspring which are raised for about two years.
The mother stays with her offspring, nursing it and protecting it from danger. Pangolin
undersides do not have scales and are covered with sparse fur.