Vertebrate Characteristics

Classification Review

a. Taxonomy
- classifying organisms based on similarities and differences
- assigning each organism a universally accepted name.
b. Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
a. In order from most general to most specific
c. Acronym - Kings Play Chess On Fine Gold Squares

Carolus Linnaeus
Classification of Vertebrates
a. Phylum: Chordata
Common Characteristics:
notochord, pharyngeal gill slits, hollow dorsal nerve cord

Lancelet

Tunicate
b. Sub-phylum: Vertebrata
Common Characteristics:
backbone that supports and protects spinal cord, endoskeleton,
distinct head with skull and brain
Part A: Overview of Vertebrate Classes
a. Fish - aquatic vertebrates that are characterized by scales, fins
and pharyngeal gills. There are 3 main groups: jawless,
cartilaginous and bony. Ex. Lamprey, dogfish shark, perch.
b. Amphibians - vertebrates that are aquatic as larvae and
terrestrial as adults. They breathe with lungs as adults, have
a moist skin with glands and lack scales and claws. Ex. Frog,
salamander, newt.
c. Reptiles - vertebrates that have lungs, scaly skin and a special
type of egg (amniotic). They live entire life out of water. Ex.
Snake, lizard, turtle.
d. Birds - endothermic, reptile-like vertebrates with feathers,
two legs used for walking and perching and wings that
usually don’t have claws. Ex. Pigeon, hawk, eagle.
e. Mammals - endothermic animals with fur or hair, and
mammary glands that produce milk to nourish young.
Almost all give birth to live young. Ex. Human, whale, fetal
pig.
Part A: Overview of Vertebrate Classes
Total Animal Species: 1,367,555
Total Vertebrate Species: 62,305 (4.5%)
Part B: Important Evolutionary Advances
a. Jaws in Fishes
• Fish are considered to be the most primitive living vertebrate.
• The first fishes to be found in abundance in the fossil record were
jawless. These are limited to eating small particles of food by
filter-feeding and vacuum suction.
• The evolution of jaws in fishes made it possible for them to eat
plants and other animals and defend themselves by biting.
b. Strength of Skeleton in Amphibians
• Amphibians probably evolved from
lobe-finned fishes. These organisms
faced many challenges transitioning
from water to land.
• The first amphibians had strong
limb bones and girdles for
movement unsupported by water.
• The ribs formed a cage that
supports and protects the internal
organs.
c. Eggs
• Reptiles evolved from amphibians when climatic changes caused
destruction of amphibian habitat.
• Reptilian eggs are surrounded by a shell and several membranes that
create a protected environment for the embryo.
• These “amniotic eggs” contain nutrient-rich yolk used by the embryo
for food.
d. Internal Temperature Control
• Fish, amphibians and reptiles are ectothermic. The have an internal
body temperature that varies with external (environmental conditions)
due to a slow metabolism.
• Birds and mammals are endothermic. They maintain a relatively high
and constant internal body temperature that is regulated internally due
to a fast metabolism.
• This adaptation is very important for animals living in habitats where
temperatures and seasons are variable.

Polar Bear
Iguana
Penguin
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Feeding and Digestion
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Feeding and Digestion

Herbivorous Digestive Systems Carnivorous Digestive Systems

- Eat constantly - Eat less frequently
- Teeth and jaw adapted to - Shorter digestive system
breaking down cellulose - Tongue, teeth and jaw adapted to
- Long coiled digestive system catch, chew and swallow meat
which helps break down plant
material
- Microbes and specialized organs
to assist with digestion

BENEFITS: BENEFITS:
Obtains energy efficiently from High calorie content in meat
plants
Generally food is readily available
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Feeding and Digestion
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Feeding and Digestion
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Respiration
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Respiration

• Gills: Oxygen rich water is pumped over gill filaments where gas
exchange occurs. Oxygen poor water is pushed out through
openings in the sides of the pharynx.
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Respiration

• Alveoli: Final branchings of the respiratory tree and act as the

primary gas exchange units of the lung. The gas-blood barrier
between the alveolar space and the pulmonary capillaries is
extremely thin, allowing for rapid gas exchange.
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Respiration
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Respiration

Similarities Differences
Lungs present in most vertebrate Gills present in fish and
classes - adult amphibians, amphibian larva
reptiles, birds, mammals.
Amphibians exchange gas
Gas exchange occurs in lungs through skin

Air sac in birds allow for one

way flow of air

Diaphragm in mammals increases

volume of lungs

Benefits
Lungs are more efficient than gills or skin gas exchange
More surface area= more efficient
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Circulation

• Single – Loop Circulation: Blood is carried in one loop: the heart to

the gills, then to the body.
• Double – Loop Circulation: Blood is carried in two loops: one loop
carries blood between the heart and the lungs, the second loop
carries blood between the heart and the body.
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Circulation

• Heart Chambers: Provide a multiple step pathway for blood to be

sent to the lungs for respiration and dispensed to the body's cells.
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Circulation
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Circulation
SINGLE LOOP
Closed system from heart to
gills, from gills to the rest of
the body and back to heart.
Fish and Amphibian Larva:
Two chambers in heart.
DOUBLE LOOP
One loop carries oxygen poor
blood from heart to lungs and
oxygen rich blood from lungs to
the heart.
Deliver
The other loop carries oxygen rich
oxygen blood from heart to rest of body
and and oxygen poor blood from the
nutrient body to the heart.
s to
cells Amphibian Adults and Reptiles: 3
and chambers in heart but less
remove efficient due to single ventricle.
wastes.
Birds and Mammals: 4 chambers
in heart. Complete separation of
oxygen rich and oxygen poor
blood= most efficient.
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Reproduction

•Oviparous: a vertebrate that lays eggs that develop outside the mothers
body.
•Ovoviviparous: a vertebrate whose eggs develop inside the mother’s
body but are not nourished directly by the mother’s body.
•Viviparous: a vertebrate who bears live young and directly nourishes the
unborn young by the mother’s body.
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Reproduction
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Reproduction
Part C: Comparing Structure and
Function
Reproduction