VERTEBRATES

1. Characteristics of
vertebrates
2. Fish
3. Amphibians
4. Reptiles
5. Birds
6. Mammals
 • All vertebrales have an endoskeleton with a
1. CHARACTERISTICS backbone.
OF VERTEBRATES • The body is made up of a head, a trunk, and many
have a tail.
• Vertebrates have articulated limbs, a well-
developed nervous system and bilateral
symmetry.
QUESTIONS OF POINT 1
1. Write the main characteristics of vertebrates.
2. Classify the following animals into invertebrates or
vertebrates:
Bee Panther Fox Slug Trout Sea urchin Crocodile
Beetle Leech Owl Lobster Octopus Frog Gecko
Sponge Moth Snake
3. Classify these vertebrates into their proper group:
Swallow Tortoise Kangaroo Shark Toad Salmon
Bat Tadpole Stork Chameleon Tuna Salamander
Lizard Vulture Mouse
2. FISH • Fish are fusiform: the body is
wider in the middle than at the
Fish are aquatic vertebrates. Some live ends.
in fresh water and some in salt water.
• Fish limbs are called fins. Each
species of fish has different fins, but
most have dorsal, pectoral, pelvic,
anal and caudal fins.
• Fish are covered with scales. A
shark´s skin, however, is covered
with small denticles.
• The lateral line system is a sensory
organ that detects vibrations.
What functions do fish
have?
• Interaction: Fish are cold-blooded. As a
result, they cannot regulate their body
temperature.
• Respiration: Fish use gills to obtain oxygen
from water. The gills are protected by the
operculum. However, sharks and rays have no
operculum.
• Nutrition: Most fish are carnivorous.
• Reproduction: Fish are oviparous, and
fertilisation takes place externally. However,
sharks are ovoviviparous (fertilisation takes
place internally).
There are two groups of fish:
• CARTILAGINOUS FISH: The skeleton • BONY FISH: The skeleton is made of
is made of cartilage, such as sharks or bone, such as carp, hake or salmon.
rays.
 QUESTIONS OF POINT 2
1. Complete the table:
FISH
Physical characteristics
Interaction
Respiration
Nutrition
Reproduction
2. What is the function of the lateral line system?
3. What kinds of fines do fish have?
4. How is the shark´s skin covered?
5. What is the function of the operculum?
6. What are the two groups of fish? Describe their characteristics and write some examples.
3. AMPHIBIANS
• All amphibians begin life in water and they
always live in wet places. However, the
adults are vertebrate terrestrial animals,
like frogs, toads, newts and salamanders.
• Amphibians have four limbs or legs.
Frogs have very strong back legs.
• Amphibian skin is moist and has no
covering. Some amphibians have glands
that produce toxins.
• Amphibians are the only vertebrates that
undergo metamorphosis. As a result, the
adults do not look like the young.
What functions do
amphibians have?
• Interaction: Amphibians are cold-blooded. As a result
they do not usually live in cold places.
• Respiration: Adult amphibians use their lungs and skin
to breathe. Tadpoles are aquatic and use gills to
breathe.
• Nutrition: Most amphibians are carnivores, but at the
tadpole stage, they are herbivores.
• Reproduction: Most amphibians are oviparous, but
salamanders are ovoviviparous. Fertilisation takes
place externally in some amphibians and internally in
others.
QUESTIONS OF POINT 3
1. Write four examples of amphibians.
2. How is the skin of amphibians?
3. What is metamorphosis?
4. Describe the lifecycle of a frog.
5. Complete the table:
 • Most reptiles, like snakes, crocodiles,
4. REPTILES lizards and tortoises, are vertebrate
terrestrial animals, but some spend
a lot of time in the water.
• Reptiles, except snakes, have four
limbs or legs.
• Reptile bodies are covered with hard
scales to keep them warm. Adult
lizards and snakes shed their skin,
but tortoise have a hard shell called
a caparace.
 What functions do
reptiles have?
• Interaction: Reptiles are poikilotherms; their body
temperature is warm or cold depending on the
environment.
• Respiration: Reptiles use lungs to breathe.
• Nutrition: Most reptiles are carnivorous. They have
teeth to capture their prey. Turtles, however, have
beaks. Many snakes have fangs connected to glands
that produce poison.
• Reproduction: Reptiles are oviparous. The eggs
develop inside a sac filled with liquid called amnion.
A hard shell protects the eggs and prevents
dehydration. Some snakes are ovoviviparous, that
is, the embryo develops inside an egg that remains
inside the female until hatching.
There are • Snakes: Cobras, vipers, boas and snakes.
• Lizards: Lizards, iguanas, chameleons.
four groups • Turtles: Tortoises and freshwater turtles.
of reptiles: • Crocodilians: Alligators and crocodiles.
QUESTIONS OF POINT 4
1. How is the skin of reptiles?
2. What is the caparace?
3. Why are reptiles poikilotherms? What can they do to warm up their body?
4. How is the egg of reptiles?
5. Complete the table:

6. Classify these reptiles into their proper group:

5. BIRDS
• A bird´s body is aerodynamic, adapted for flight.
• Birds have four limbs: the back limbs are legs, and
the front limbs are wings.
• A bird´s body is covered with feathers. Each feather
has an axis or rachis. Barbs spread out on each side
of the rachis. The calamus joins the feather to the
body.
• Bird bones are hollow. This makes their body light so
they can fly more easily.
• Strong wings muscles are attached to the sternum or
keel.
• Birds have a beak, but no teeth.
What functions do birds have?
• Interaction: Birds are homeothermal or warm- blooded (they can regulate their body
temperature).
• Respiration: They use lungs to breathe. The lungs are connected to air sacs which
enable them to breath and to fly.
• Nutrition: The shape of a bird´s beak depends on the food it eats.
• Reproduction: Birds are oviparous, they lay eggs. The eggs are incubated until the
chicks hatch. Fertilisation takes place internally.
QUESTIONS OF POINT 5
1. Draw a feather and label its parts.
2. Why are the bird bones hollow?
3. What is the keel?
4. Why are birds homeothermal?
5. Associate each beak with how the bird feeds:
• A. strong and curved; B. short and strong; C.
Long and pointed.
• I. Opens seeds; II. Fishes; III. Tears its prey.
6. Complete the table:
6. MAMMALS
Most mammals are terrestrial animals.
Some are aquatic animals, like dolphin´s
but only one, the bat, can fly.
Main body parts:
• A neck joints the head to the trunk. The tail
is an extension of the spinal column.
• Mammals have four limbs. Terrestrial
mammals have legs, aquatic mammals have
fins, and bats have wings.
• Mammal bodies are covered with hair or
fur, which keeps them warm.
• Mammals have teeth. The shape of the teeth
depends on the food the mammal eats.
• Mammals have many glands; the most
important ones are the mammary glands,
that produce milk.
 What functions do
mammals have?
• Interaction: Mammals are homeothermal or
warm-blooded; they can keep their body
temperature constant.
• Respiration: They use lungs to breathe. Aquatic
mammals come up to the surface to breathe.
• Nutrition: They feed on different things. For
example, carnivores eat meat; insectivores eat
insects; herbivores eat plants; granivores eat
seeds.
• Reproduction: Fertilisation takes place internally
and that young grow in the mother´s womb.
Mammals are viviparous: they give birth to live
young. The babies feed on their mother´s milk.
There are three groups
of mammals:
• Monotremes: Monotremes are born
from eggs. They have a beak but no
teeth. Examples: platypus, echidna.
• Marsupials: Marsupials finish their
development inside the mother´s
pouch. Examples: kangaroo, koala.
• Placentals: The young develop
inside the mother's body, in the
uterus. Examples: dolphin,
chimpanzee.
QUESTIONS OF POINT 6
1. What is the tail of a mammal?
2. How are the limbs of mammals?
3. What is the function of the fur?
4. What is the function of the mammary glands?
5. Why are mammals homeothermal?
6. How can aquatic mammals breathe?
7. Why are mammals viviparous?
8. Classify these mammals into their proper group:
Tasmanian devil - Bear - Kangaroo - Whale - Echidna - Deer – Koala - Platypus
9. Complete the table: