Vertebrates | Definition, Characteristics, Examples, Facts
What are Vertebrates?
Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone or spine, also known as vertebrae. These animals include fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.
How are Vertebrates classified?
Vertebrates are classified under the subphylum Chordate Vertebrates. Invertebrates are any other animals classified outside this class.
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Are there a lot of Vertebrate Species?
There are about 65,000 known vertebrate species. It sounds like a lot, but vertebrates make up only about 3% of all animals on Earth. Most animals are invertebrates.
What are some Vertebrate Animals?
Fish – Fish are animals that live in the water. They have gills that allow them to breathe underwater. Different species of fish can live in fresh or salt water. Some examples of fish include stream trout, great white shark, lionfish, and swordfish.
Birds – Birds are animals that have feathers, wings, and lay eggs. Many, but not all, birds can fly. Some examples of birds include bald eagles, cardinals, flamingos, ostriches, and red-tailed hawks.
Mammals – Mammals are warm-blooded animals that suckle their young with milk and have hair or fur. Some examples of mammals include humans, dolphins, giraffes, horses, and spotted hyenas.
Amphibians – Amphibians are cold-blooded animals. They begin their aquatic life with gills, like fish. They later develop lungs and can travel to land. Amphibians include frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders.
Reptiles – Reptiles are cold-blooded animals that lay eggs. Their skin is covered with hard, dry scales. Reptiles include alligators, alligators, snakes, lizards, and turtles.
Cold-blooded and Warm-blooded
Vertebrates can be either warm-blooded or cold-blooded. Cold-blooded animals cannot maintain a constant body temperature. Their body temperature is determined by the external environment. Cold-blooded animals will move during the day between shade and sun to warm or cool down. Cold-blooded animals are exothermic, which means external heat. Reptiles, amphibians, and fish are all cold-blooded animals.
Warm-blooded animals can regulate their internal temperature. They can sweat or wear pants to cool off and have feathers and feathers to keep warm. Warm-blooded animals are said to be endothermic, which means “internal heat”. Only birds and mammals are warm-blooded.
Big and Small
The smallest vertebrate is thought to be a small frog called Paedophryne amauensis. It only grows to about 0.3 inches long. The largest is the blue whale, which can be over 100 feet long and weigh 400,000 pounds.
Interesting Facts about Vertebrates
The only mammals that lay eggs are monotremes such as the platypus and the spiny anteater.
There are reptiles that live on every continent except Antarctica.
Most fish have skeletons, they are called bony fish. Other fish have skeletons made of cartilage. These include sharks and rays.
Frogs can breathe through their skin.
The shortest childhood of any mammal is that of the hooded seal. They are considered mature when they are only four days old.
Vertebrates tend to be much more intelligent than invertebrates.