IGCSE Topic 1 - Characteristics and classification of living organisms Flashcards
How many characteristics of life are there?
7
What are the characteristics of life?
Movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition
What do the cells of all living organisms share/contain?
Cytoplasm, a cell membrane and DNA as genetic material
What are Vertebrates?
Animals with backbones (part of an internal skeleton)
What are the five groups Vertebrates are divided into?
Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals
Details of fish
Scales, Fins, Usually produces jelly-covered eggs in water, eyes but no ears, cold blooded, gills for breathing
Details of amphibians
Moist skin, four limbs; back feet often webbed, produces jelly-covered eggs in water, eyes and ears, cold-blooded, breathes through skin and lungs
Details of reptiles
Dry; with scales, four legs (apart from snakes), eggs with rubbery waterproof shell; laid on land, eyes and ears, cold-blooded; lungs for breathing,
Details of birds
Feathers; scales on legs, wings; two legs, eggs with hard shells, eyes and ears, warm-blooded; lungs for breathing, has beaks
Details of Mammals
Fur, four limbs, live young, eyes, ears with pinna (external flap), warm-blooded, lungs for breathing, females have mammary glands to produce milk to feed young, four types of teeth
What are invertebrates?
Animals without a backbone
Details of insects
Three pairs of legs, usually have two pairs of wings, one pair of antennae, body divided into head, thorax and abdomen, a pair of compound eyes
Details of arachnids
Four pairs of legs, body divided into cephalothorax and abdomen, several pairs of simple eyes
Details of crustaceans
Five or more pairs of legs, two pairs of antennae, body divided into cephalothorax and abdomen, compound eyes
Details of myriapods
Many pairs of legs, one pair of antennae, body not obviously divided into thorax and abdomen, simple eyes
