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Vertebrate Diversity PDF
Vertebrate Diversity PDF
Notochord
Chordates. As shown in the above figure, all Brain
vertebrates are found within the Chordata
phylum. All chordates evolved from an ancestor
that had a flexible rod (called a notochord) along
the dorsal side (back) to provide support for the
skeleton and muscles. All chordates share a
common internal body plan. There is a dorsal Anus Mouth
nerve cord; a digestive tract that extends from the mouth to anus; Heart
a muscular tail that extends beyond the anus and the heart pumps Digestive Gill slits
blood through the body and to the gills (or lungs). Indeed, all track
vertebrates contain a tail and gill slits at some stage of development.
mya
Cenozoic
65
Mesozoic
during the early Paleozoic era with the evolution of fish, followed
150
by amphibians and then reptiles during middle Paleozoic. Reptiles
reached their “peak” (at least in size and ferocity) during the
Amphibians
Reptiles
into small hair-covered mammals, birthing their young rather than 300
Paleozoic
400
eventual demise, the dinosaurs gave rise to another group, the
birds, which, like the mammals, survive to the present day. 450
550
Precambrian
The objectives of this lab exercise are for you to understand the:
• difference between vertebrate and invertebrates animals.
• distinguishing characteristics of the major groups of vertebrate animals.
• evolutionary relationships between the vertebrates.
Fish are classified into several classes. Representatives of the following classes are on display in the
lab.
There are three orders of amphibians: frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. Caecilians are a rather
obscure group entirely lacking limbs and outwardly resembling worms or snakes,. so wWe will
focus on the more common frogs and salamanders.
Crocodiles and Alligators (Order Crocodylia): In several ways crocodiles more closely resemble
birds than other reptiles, such as in building nests and caring for their young. Possibly there was a
close relationship among the dinosaur ancestors from which crocodiles and birds descended.
Unlike most reptiles, birds care for their young after hatching and until they are able to fend for
themselves.
• Marsupials (e.g., kangeroos) are less common and predominate in Australia, although some
(e.g., the opossum) occur in other regions. The fetus of marsupials develop in an external
pouch of the mother.
• Monotremes (e.g., the platypus) have retained the ancestral characteristic of laying eggs.
The major orders of the placental mammals are represented by many familiar animals, such as:
Carnivorous predators (e.g., bears, cats and dogs)
Hoofed mammals (e.g., horses)
Marine mammals (e.g., whales, dolphins, porpoises)
Primates (e.g., monkeys, chimpanzees, humans)
Rodents (e.g., mice, rats, beavers – the largest order)
Etc.
A. Read the section on fish and A. Eexamine the displays pertaining to fish.
3. Wearing latex gloves, handle the fish on display. The protective structures on the perch are
called __________________. Examine one of these under the microscope; why does it have
numerous little ring-like structures?
4. For each of the following fishes on display identify the class in which it is classifiedit belongs to
and a distinguishing characteristic:
Fish type Class Distinguishing trait
a) Dogfish _________________ :
b) Lamprey _________________ :
c) Perch _________________ :
5. One of the fish on display is bearing eggs, which fill a significant volume of the body cavity.
Why is it necessary for fish to produce so many eggs?
a. bullfrog _________________
c. salamander _________________
What are two shared characteristics of the external anatomy of these three organisms?
2. Wearing latex gloves, and handle the amphibians on display. How is the skin important to
the survival of these organisms?
3. Examine the dissected frog. What internal organ first evolved among amphibians to allow
better gas exchange on land and to support the activity of larger muscles?
4. Examine the display of the frog life stages. What events happen during the:
5. What are three evolutionary innovations that first appeared among amphibians?
1.
2.
3.
1. For each of the following reptiles, identify the order in which it is classified.
Organism Order
a. Turtle _________________
b. Copperhead _________________
c. Alligator _________________
2. Examine the turtle egg shells. Unlike eggs of amphibians, reptile eggs are larger, surrounded
by a protective ____________________ and contain a food supply in the _______________.
How did this help reptiles adapt to life on land?
3. Obviously, reptiles produce enough offspring to sustain the species, yet they produce far fewer
eggs than do fish and amphibians. How is this possible?
5. What are three evolutionary innovations that first appeared among reptiles?
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3. Examine the bird skeleton on display, and in the diagram to the right
label the ‘furcula’ and ‘keel’. Why are these modified bones only
found in birds?
4. Birds lay even fewer eggs than reptiles. How is offspring rearing
among birds different than for most reptiles?
5. What are three evolutionary innovations that first appeared among birds?
1.
3.
E. Read the section on mammals and examine Examine the displays pertaining to
mammals.
2. Examine the reproductive tract from a pregnant pig that is on display. Although the uterus is
not present, the fetus is surrounded by the membrane called the _______________, and is
connected by the umbilical cord to the __________________.
3. How is reproduction in mammals more efficient than that of fish and amphibians?
4. What do you perceive as some of the evolutionary innovations among mammals that have
contributed to development of advanced societies among humans? Explain.
5. What are three evolutionary innovations that first appeared among mammals?
1.
3.
Lungs
Gills
Skin
A. Summarize changes in respiration in Table 1. Class
(Place an “X” in each appropriate box.) Fish
Amphibians
1) A _________________ located along the Reptiles
dorsal side of the body first appeared in the Birds
Chordata phylum.
Mammals
Feathers
nerve cord.
Naked
Scales
Scales
Bony
Hair
Skin
Class
B. Summarize changes in body covering Fish
in Table 2. (Place an “X” in each Amphibians
appropriate box.) Reptiles
Birds
3) What structural characteristic is Mammals
shared by reptilian scales, feathers and
hair?
Table 3. Reproduction through:
Internal
Shelled
Naked
eggs