VERTEBRATE ANIMALS
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Vertebrates are animals that have a spinal column and an internal skeleton (to protect the organs and support the body).
Inside the spinal column, there is nerve tissue called the spinal cord that transmits nerve impulses from the brain to the body, and from the body to the brain. |
As you already know, vertebrate animals can be divided in 5 groups: MAMMALS, FISH, BIRDS, REPTILES and AMPHIBIANS.
MAMMALS
- Respiration: mammals breathe with their lungs.
- Body: mammals' bodies are covered with hair (fur). They are warm-blooded animals.
- Reproduction: they are viviparous, this means that female mammals give birth to babies and they produce milk to feed them.
- Extremities: most of terrestrial mammals have four legs and a tail. Aquatic mammals have fins.
FISH
- Respiration: fish breathe with their gills.
- Body: fish's bodies are covered with scales. They are cold-blooded animals.
- Reproduction: they are oviparous.
- Extremities: fish use their fins and tails to move.
BIRDS
- Respiration: birds breathe with their lungs.
- Body: birds' bodies are covered with feathers. Their light and thin bones let them fly. They are warm-blooded animals.
- Reproduction: birds lay eggs, so they are oviparous.
- Extremities: they have two legs and two wings.
REPTILES
- Respiration: reptiles breathe with their lungs.
- Body: their bodies are covered with hard scales, and some of them have a hard shell too. They are cold-blooded animals.
- Reproduction: reptiles lay eggs, so they are oviparous.
- Extremities: many of them have four legs, but some, like snakes, don't have any legs.
AMPHIBIANS
- Respiration: baby amphibians breathe with their gills. Adult amphibians breathe with their lungs.
- Body: they have bare skin. That skin is thin and smooth. They are cold-blooded animals.
- Reproduction: amphibians lay eggs, so they are oviparous.
- Extremities: they have four legs. Many amphibians also have a tail.
Would you like to see some animals in action? So click on each animal to watch live cameras from the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park in Washington D.C.
Time to check what we have understood with a couple of videos.
On the first video, you will review all the previous information about vertebrates.
On the first video, you will review all the previous information about vertebrates.
On the second video, you will learn the evolution of the vertebrates.
Would you like to play some games to check what you have learnt? Go to the games section and check it out!!