Vertebrates

&
Invertebrates
 Introduction

You are about to begin an interactive

presentation.
Caution: This is not a normal presentation!
YOU will be participating!

You will be learning about two main classifications

of animals:
 Vertebrates, invertebrates, and the
differences between them.
 Directions

There are several ways to navigate through

this presentation:
1. On some slides you can click on the boxes
that look like this:
2. You can click the “next” or “back” buttons
like the one at the bottom left of this
page.
3. For slides with questions, just click on your
choice.
Presentation Objectives
1. Given access to this presentation, the
students will navigate through this
presentation with 90% accuracy.
2. Given questions within the presentation, the
students will correctly answer 70% of the
questions.
3. Given at least 30 minutes to explore the
presentation and given characteristics of a
specific animal, students will be able to
identify whether the animal is a vertebrate
or an invertebrate with 80% accuracy.
 Classification of Animals

Animals

Click on vertebrates or
invertebrates to learn
more about each!!

Vertebrates Invertebrates

Click below after you

have read about
vertebrates and
invertebrates
Vertebrates

•Animals that are vertebrates

are simply animals with a
backbone.

•Vertebrates have an
endoskeleton
–It offers support and protects
the soft parts of the animal.
 Vertebrates
Vertebrates can either be ectotherms or endotherms.
Ectotherms (cold-blooded)
•Body temperature changes to match their
surroundings.

•Endotherms (warm-blooded)
•Regulate their body temperature so that it
remains constant
 Vertebrates

•Vertebrate animals fall into the

chordate phylum.

•The chordate phylum is divided into

classes.
–fish
–amphibians
–reptiles
–birds
–mammals
 Vertebrates
This chart shows the vertebrates organized into classes.

Click on a box to learn more about that class of vertebrates!

When you are done, click the link at the bottom left of the screen to learn about invertebrates!

Vertebrates

Fish Amphibians Reptiles

Birds Mammals
Click here to go
to Invertebrates
 Fish
• Fish are cold-blooded animals.
– This means that their blood
temperature changes with the
temperature of the surrounding water.
• Most fish live close to the shore in
water that is less than 600 feet
deep.
– In the ocean, the deeper the water,
the dimmer the light.
– Many fish who live at 2000 feet or
deeper glow in the dark.
 Fish
• All fish have gills. These gills absorb
oxygen from the water and pass it along
to the bloodstream.

• A fishes scales are called armor because

they protect it. A slimy substance
moistens the scales. This protects the
fish from infection and helps the fish slip
through the water faster.
 Fish
• Fish stay afloat because they have swim
bladders. By changing the amount of air in its
bladder, a fish never rises or sinks, but stays
balanced.
 Fish
•Fins move the fish forward, steer it, and help the
fish to keep its balance.
•The pectoral and pelvic fins are used for balance, steering,
and braking.
•The dorsal fin keeps the fish from rolling over and works
along with the anal fin.
•The tail (caudal fin) provides power, thrushing the fish
forward.
 Fish
Fish are actually divided into 3 different classes.

Click the boxes to learn about these 3 types.

You must click the boxes in order from top to bottom.

Bony Fish

Cartilaginous Fish

Jawless Fish
 Bony Fish

• Bony fish make up about 95% of all

fish.
• Skeletons are made up of bone.
• Their scaly skin is covered with a
slimy mucous.
• Their mouth is generally at the
front of the body.
• They have a tail fin.
Click the fish to see a diagram of bony fish.
 Cartilaginous Fish
• Cartilaginous fish include the
sharks, skates and rays.

• Although these look different, Great White Shark

they have many features in

common.

• None of them have any true bone

- their skeleton is made of Ray

cartilage.

• They have strong jaws Chilean Skate

 Cartilaginous Fish
Continued…

• Their mouth is on the underside of their

body.
• Their eyes are on the top of their body.
• They cannot see food as it enters their
mouth.
• Some sharks solve this problem by touching
their food briefly with their nose first.
– Some also use a powerful electrosensory system.

Click the shark

to see a diagram
of a shark!
 Jawless Fish

• This is a primitive eel-like fish which doesn't

have a true jaw, but a sucker-like mouth (like
suction cups!) and rasping teeth.
• There are two main types:
– Lampreys
• Lampreys are found in freshwater lakes and streams as
well as in salt water.
– Hagfish
• Hagfish, or blind eels, are found only in salt water and
feed mainly on dead fish.

lamprey
 Let’s Review Fish!!!
Click on the correct choice.
The majority of fish fall into which class?

A. Bony Fish

A. Cartilaginous Fish

A. Jawless Fish
 You chose B. Cartilaginous Fish.
That is incorrect.
Think about the majority of fish you have seen
in your life…what is hard inside their body?
 You chose C. Jawless Fish.
That is incorrect.
Think about the majority of fish you have seen
in your life…what is hard inside their body?
 Yes. The correct choice is A Bony Fish.
About 95% of all fish are considered bony fish!
 Let’s Review Fish!!!
Click on the correct choice.
Which fin gives the fish balance,
steering, and braking?

A. Dorsal Fin

A. Caudal Fin (tail)

A. Pectoral and Pelvic Fins

 You chose B. Caudal Fin (tail).
That is incorrect.
The caudal fin (tail) actually gives the fish the
power to move forward.
 You chose A. Dorsal Fin.
That is incorrect.
The dorsal fin keeps the fish from rolling over.
 Yes. The correct choice is
C. Pectoral and Pelvic Fin.
These allow the fish to balance, steer, and brake.
 Amphibians
• These animals have
smooth skin
• Most spend at least part Salamander

of their life in water.

• Amphibians are cold-
blooded (hibernate in
winter). newts

• They usually have three

life stages: egg, larva,
adult (metamorphosis).
• Includes: Frogs, Toads,
Salamanders, and Newts.
Ever wonder what the difference between a frog and a toad was?
Click here to find out!
toad
 Reptiles

• These animals have dry, scaly

skin.
• They are cold-blooded
(hibernate in winter). Iguana

• Some live in the water, but most

are adapted to life on land.
• Most reptiles lay soft-shelled Turtle

eggs, but some bear live young.

• Includes: Lizards, Snakes,
Turtles, and Crocodiles.
Fast Fact! Crocodile
Did you know that snakes smell with their tongue!
 Birds

• Birds are warm-

blooded.
• They have hollow
bones and feathers. Raptor

• Most can fly at least

short distances.
• Birds are born from
hard-shelled eggs.
Gull

• Includes: Raptors,
Gulls, Songbirds, and
Fowl.
Fowl
 Mammals
• These animals usually have
hair/fur.
• They give birth to live young
and feed their young with
milk. Rodent

• Have the most complex brains

and nervous systems of any
animal on earth. Bat

• Mammals are warm-blooded.

• Includes: Rodents, Hoofed
animals, Marsupials, Bats,
Rabbits, Weasels, Raccoons, Dog
Bears, Dogs, and Cats.
Let’s try one quick
review question!
 Vertebrate Review

You see a greenish-brownish colored animal

walking in your yard. You get brave, and
decide to touch it. It’s skin is dry and
scaly. What kind of animal is it most
likely?

A. Amphibian

B. Mammal

C. Reptile
 You chose A. Amphibian.
That is incorrect.
Amphibians have smooth skin.
 You chose B. Mammal.
That is incorrect.
A mammal’s skin would most likely be furry.
Yes. The correct choice is
C. reptile
Reptiles have dry, scaly skin.
 Fun Facts!

• What’s the difference between an alligator and a

crocodile?
• Click here to find out!

• What’s the difference between a reptile and an

amphibian?
• Click here to find out!
 Invertebrates

• Invertebrates are animals without a

backbone.
• 97% of all animals are invertebrates!
• They are divided into different groups or
phyla (plural of phylums).
• Scientists look at something called
symmetry to help classify invertebrates.
 Invertebrates
Radial symmetry: body parts are arranged around
in a circle around a central point (starfish).

Bilateral symmetry: have two sides that will

match if you draw a line down the center of their
body (lobster).

Asymetric: these animals have no definite shape

at all (sponges).
 Invertebrates
Click on a box to learn more about that class of invertebrates!
When you are done, click the man at the bottom left of the screen to move on!

Cnidarian Sponges Arthropods Mollusks

Invertebrates

Click below when you

are done learning about
invertebrates:

Echinoderms Annelids Flatworms

 Cnidarians
• Have radial symmetry

• Sometimes they have stinging

tentacles around their mouths that
they use to catch food.

Polyp
Jellyfish
 Sponges

• Asymmetric bodies

• They filter food out of the water

as it passes through them.
 Roundworms

• These outnumber every other

animal on earth.
• They can be predators, parasites,
or decomposers.
 Arthropods

Crustaceans • Have jointed body parts

Arachnids • Bilateral symmetry Butterfly

Insects
• Segmented bodies
• Lobster, house fly,
beetle, butterflies,
Beetle

spiders

House Fly
Tarantula

Lobster
 Arthropods
Crustaceans
• Crustaceans live mostly in the ocean or other waters.
• Most commonly known crustaceans are the crab and
Crustaceans lobster.
Arachnids • Crustaceans have a hard, external shell which protects
their body.
Insects • Crustaceans have a head and abdomen. The head has
antennae which are part of their sensory system. The
abdomen includes the heart, digestive system and
reproductive system.
• The abdomen also has appendages, such as legs, for
crawling and swimming. Many crustaceans also have
claws that help with crawling and eating.
 Arthropods
Arachnids

• Arachnids are a type of

Crustaceans arthropod. You know many of them
Arachnids as spiders.
Insects • Like other arthropods, the
arachnids have a hard exoskeleton
and jointed appendages for
walking.
• Unlike other arthropods,
arachnids do not have antennae.
• Common arachnids are the spider,
scorpions, ticks and mites.
 Arthropods
Insects
• Insects are the largest group of
Crustaceans arthropods. There are over 800,000
different types of insects.
Arachnids
• The insect's head has a pair of
Insects antennae, and a pair of compound
eyes.
• Compound eyes are different from
human eyes which have a single lens
for each eye. Compound eyes have
many lenses for each eye. For
example, the fly has about 4,000
lenses in a single eye. This provides
them with very good eyesight.
 Flatworms

• Long, flat bodies

• Bilateral symmetry Planaria

• Most are parasites that invade

other creatures and live off of
them.
• Planaria, tapeworms, liver flukes

Tapeworm Liver Flukes

 Annelids

• Segmented worms
• Ringed segments
• Earthworms, leeches

Earthworm
Leech
 Mollusks

• Soft bodies Oyster

• Protective shell
• Land mollusks include snails and slugs
and have lungs.
• Water mollusks include oysters,
mussels, clams, squids, and octopuses
which use gills to breathe.

Snail

Octopus
 Echinoderms

• Spiny skin Sand Dollar

• Radial symmetry
• Thousands of tube-like feet
• Starfish, sea urchin, sand dollar, and
sea cucumber.

Sea Urchin Sea Cucumber

Starfish
 Let’s Review
What type of symmetry does the
following invertebrate have?

a) Radial

b) Bilateral

c) Asymmetric
 You chose c. asymmetric.
That is incorrect.
Think about the left and right sides of a
butterfly…
 You chose a. radial.
That is incorrect.
Are all their body parts arranged around a
circle?
 Yes. The correct choice is
B. bilateral
Both sides of the butterfly are idential.
 Congratulations!

You have just finished learning

about vertebrates and
invertebrates!

You are now an expert zoo keeper!

Tomorrow we will continue our

quest….