Animal Kingdom-subphylum Vertebrata-class Ix

Subphylum Vertebrata Vertebrates, which include fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals, all share a vertebral column, or a chain of bony elements (vertebrae) that run along the dorsal surface from head to tail and form the main skeletal axis of the body ie. The Vertebral Column. Other features of vertebrates are :

integument often modified to produce hair, scales, feathers, glands, horn, etc. digestive system with large digestive glands, liver, and pancreas ventral heart with 2-4 chambers blood with red blood cells containing hemoglobin, and in addition, white blood cells. paired kidneys with ducts to drain waste to exterior most vertebrates with two sexes, each with paired gonads (there are some exceptions) Vertebrates are grouped into five classes: • Pisces • Aves • Amphibia • Mammalia • Reptilia

Charact ers

Pisces

Amphibi a

Chambers in Heart Respiratio n

2

3

Gills are used to obtain oxygen dissolved in water Cold blooded

Gills or lungs

3 (4 in crocodile) Lungs

Cold blooded

Lay eggs in water

Cold blooded/ Warm blooded Reproducti on

Skeleton

Habitat

Any other special feature

Reptilia

Aves

Mammalia

4

4

Lungs

Lungs

Cold blooded

Warm blooded

Warm blooded

Lay eggs in water

Lay eggs with tough covering, eggs laid on land

Skin covered with scales/ plates, skeleton either only cartilage (shark) or bones and cartilage (tuna, Rohu) Exclusively aquatic

Endoskeleton of bones

Endo-skeleton of bones

Lay eggs with tough covering, eggs laid on land Exoskeleton of feathers, Endoskeleton of bones

Found both in water and on land

Found both in water and on land, majority on land

Streamlined body and muscular tail help in movement

Mucus glands in skin.

their eggs are protected from dessication by an extra membrane, the amnion, not

majority on land, some are able to move in water, most can fly (aerial) Forelimbs modified to limbs for flight, hollow bones

Endo-skeleton of bones and cartilage

Mostly Terrestrial, (whales live in water, bats on trees)

Mammals give birth to young ones. Mammary glands for production of milk to nourish the young ones, hair,

Examples

Sting Ray, Scoliodon (Dog Fish)

Frog, Toad, Salamander, Hyla

found in amphibians Turtle, Chamaleon, Snake, Lizard, Chamaleon

Ostrich, Pigeon, Sparrow, Crow

sweat glands and oil glands on skin. Whale, Bat, Echidna, Monkey, Kangaroo, Rat, Humans

For more information visit the link: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Vertebrata.ht ml