Vertebrate Test Flashcards
Vertebrates fall into the phylum ______________________________.
chordata
What kingdom do vertebrates belong to?
class
Lancelets and tunicates are classified as _______________________.
phylum chordata
What are the six characteristics of vertebrates?
- Endoskeleton with a backbone for support of a dorsal nerve cord & muscle attachment
- Distinct skull and nervous tissue region
- Bilateral symmetry
- 2 pairs of jointed appendages
- Coelom-cavity within the body
- Closed circulatory system & chambered heart
What are 3 characteristics of fish?
aquatic tetrapods with scales, gills, & 2 chambered hearts
Name the 3 orders of fish and give their characteristics.
Class Agnathans: jawless fishes (hagfish, lampreys)
Class Chondrichthyes: cartilagenous fish (sharks, rays)
Class Osteichthyes: bony fish (mahi-mahi, tilapia, halibut, puffer fish, tetras, guppies)
What are the characteristics of the hagfish and lampreys (class=Agnathans)?
- Jawless & finless
- Skeleton of cartilage
- Reproduce sexually
- Gills
- 2 Chambered Heart
- Oviparous-eggs are laid in a nest or in the ground and hatch
The class Chondrichthyes contains sharks and rays. What are the characteristics of this class?
- Endoskeleton made of cartilage
- Paired fins
- Jaws
- 2 chambered heart
- Well-developed sense of sight and smell
- Lateral line system (for sensing pressure changes – vibrations - in water); whole body acts as an “ear
- Internal fertilization- deposit sperm in female reproductive tract
The class Osteichthyes are one of the most successful groups on Earth. List the characteristics of organisms in this order. Give examples of organisms in this class.
- Endoskeleton made of bones
- Swim bladder
- Usually, external fertilization
- Lateral line system
- Scales different from those in sharks
- 2 chambered heart (all fish!)
What are the characteristics of amphibians?
semiaquatic tetrapods with split lives & 3-chambered hearts
Amphibians are semi aquatic tetrapods. What are the three major groups in this class and their characteristics?
Anura – “tailless ones” (frogs & toads)
Urodela – “tailed ones” (salamanders & newts)
Apoda – “legless ones” (caecilians)
True or False. Aquatic tetrapods gave rise to the first amphibians, who probably came on land in search of food.
true
What are the characteristics of the Class Amphibia?
(Frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts)
- Ectotherms- must gain (or lose) heat from the environment to maintain body temperature
- Need H2O for breeding
- Metamorphosis (tadpole 🡪 frog)
- Gas exchange through moist skin & mouth; primitive balloon-like lungs
- External fertilization
- 3-chambered heart
What are some of the physical characteristics of reptiles?
terrestrial amniote tetrapods with scales & lungs & 3 to 4 chambered hearts
What are the major groups of reptiles?
Squamata – lizards and snakes
Testudines – turtles & tortoises
Crocodilia – alligators, crocodiles, and related species
Description of reptiles
-Ectotherms – bask and hide to regulate temperature
- Scaly, waterproof skin
- Respire through lungs only
- Internal fertilization
- 3 or 4 chambered heart
Why are reptiles considered to be ectotherms?
They are considered to be ecotherms because a lot of the reptiles and ampibians bask in the heat to regulate their temperature.
What are the major groups of reptiles and what are some of their adaptations as predators?
Squamata (snakes, lizards): Jacobson’s organ – when a snake flicks its tongue it is collecting molecules that are then brought in to Jacobson’s organ for “processing”. Pits – many snakes have heat sensory organs on their head. Hollow fangs – with or without poison glands for capturing, holding, and killing prey. Muscles the length of the body allow it to move quickly and to strangling prey
Testudines (turtles. tortoises): their shell
Crocodilia: (alligators, crocodiles): Adapted for aquatic life with upturned nostrils and eyes on top of head
Crocodiles and Alligators are most closely related to what other organisms?
feathered reptiles
What are the physical characteristics of birds?
terrestrial amniotes tetrapods with feathers & lungs & 4 chambered hearts
What are the groups of birds?
- Ratites – ostriches, emus, kiwis
- Passeriformes – perching birds – jays, sparrows, crows, etc.
- Aquatic birds – ducks, swans, geese
- Raptors – eagles, falcons, hawks
- Penguins
Are birds endothermic or exothermic?
endothermic
What adaptations help a bird to be able to fly?
- Hollow bones - make bird lightweight
- Front limbs modified into wings
- Air sacs to aid in breathing at high altitudes
- Keel – modified breastbone for muscle attachment
What is a preen gland?
to keep their feathers from becoming saturated, impeding flight
What are the physical characteristics of mamals?
terrestrial amniote tetrapods with lungs, hair and mammary glands & 4 chambered hearts
What are the three major groups of mammals?
- Monotremes (lay eggs) – echidna and platypus
- Marsupials – koala, kangaroo, opossum
– Placentals – humans, bears, tigers, giraffes, deer, pigs, dogs, cats, raccoons, squirrels, whales, walruses, manatees, etc.
What are the classifying characteristics of the class mammalian?
Describe the heart of the mammalian
4-chambered heart
Describe the physical characteristics of the mammal?
- Endothermic – hair and layer of fat aid in conserving heat
- Hair – keratinous protein that aids in insulation
- Mammary glands – produce milk to feed offspring
- 2 species of monotreme (mammals that lay eggs); oviparous-eggs are hatched after they are laid
- Marsupials and placentals are viviparous-live birth
- Diaphragm for increased respiration
- 4-chambered heart
- Jaw structure reflects diet
- Inner ear contains 3 bones for improved hearing
- Large brain; learn; Extended parental care
Describe monotremes, marsupials, and placentals. What are some of their physical characteristics?
- Monotremes: Mammals that lay eggs, have hair, and produce milk with mammary glands. Mother produces milk which is excreted from glands on the abdomen and the babies lap up the milk or suck it off the fur of the mother
- Marsupials: Embryo develops in uterus with a placenta. Immature fetus is born into a pouch called a marsupium. All marsupials live in Australia with the exception of the opossum, which can be found in the Americas.
Placentals: Placental mammals develop in a uterus attached to a placenta until at an advanced stage of development. Widespread on earth – found in every major biome, including marine, arctic, and tundra.
