VERTEBRATE UNIT Flashcards
what are the Sponges characteristics
primitive multicellular animal
invertebrate animal
asymmetrical
no tissues or organs; cells digest food and
take in oxygen
filter feeder
what are the Cnidarians characteristics
Two different body plans (polyp, medusa).
Radial symmetry
Central hollow cavity
Tentacles with stinging cells (capture food,
defense)
Example:
Sea anemone, coral, hydra (polyp body
plan)
what are some WORM CHARACTERISTICS
long, narrow body without legs
bilateral symmetry
tissues, organs, organs systems present
first simple brain (bundle of nerve tissue)
Characteristics Roundworms (Nematoda)
First tube-like digestive system (mouth, anus)
cylindrical body
what are Segmented Worms (Annelida)
segmented, cylindrical body (series of rings
separated by grooves)
First tube-like digestive system (mouth, anus)
First nerve cord (pre-spinal cord)
First closed circulatory system
Mollusk Characteristics
soft body (unsegmented)
w/wo hard outer shell
mantle (covering internal organs & secretes shell)
foot
open circulatory system
Example: clams, oysters, scallops, snails,
mussels, squid, octopus, cuttlefish
Characteristics of Cephalopods
tentacles (modified foot)
swim by jet propulsion
with/without shell
nautilus: shell
squid/cuttlefish: tiny shell inside body
octopus: no shell
closed circulatory system
complex nervous system
large brain: intelligent
(squid, cuttlefish, nautilus, octopus)
Arthropod Characteristics
Hard outer covering (exoskeleton)
ex = outside; as in exit
function: protective armor & prevents from drying out
molting: shedding exoskeleton
Segmented body
Jointed appendages
legs: flexibility of movement
antenna: sense organ
Most diverse animal group (insects)
Characteristics of Crustaceans (C5)
2-3 body sections
5 (to 8) or more pairs of legs
2 pairs of antennae
Example: crab, lobster, crayfish, shrimp, pill
bug
Environment: mostly marine; few land
Characteristics of Arachnids (A24)
2 body sections
4 pairs of legs
no antennae
Example: spider, mite, tick, scorpion
Environment: land, dry areas, hot climates
Characteristics of
Millipedes & Centipedes
(CMN)
2 body sections (head & multi-segmented abdomen)
Many pairs of legs (40-60 pr legs)
1 pair of antennae
Centipede: 1 pair of legs per segment
Millipede: 2 pair of legs per segment
Environment: forest floor, moist, humid
Characteristics of Insects (I33W)
3 body sections
3 pair of legs
1 pair of antennae
wings
Most diverse arthropod group (in body shape
and mouthparts; adaptations for survival)
Example: moths, butterfly/caterpiller,
dragonfly, cockroach (350myr), bees, ants,
ladybug, mosquito, grasshopper, wasp
Characteristics of Insect Metamorphosis
Complete Metamorphosis: juvenile stages
(larva, pupa) look different from adult
stage.
Gradual Metamorphosis: juvenile stages
(nymph) are a miniature of the adult
stage.
Characteristics of
Echinoderm Characteristics
first internal endoskeleton
spiny skin
water vascular system (with tube feet)
limb regeneration
radial symmetry (5)
Environment: marine
Example: starfish, brittle stars, sea urchins,
sand dollars, sea cucumbers
Characteristics of Fish Characteristics
ectotherms (cold-blooded)
fins (movement)
scales
gills (respiration)
water lifestyle
mostly external fertilization
closed circulatory system
2-chamber heart (evolutionarily important)
oldest & largest vertebrate group
what are Reptile Characteristics
ectothermic: cold-blooded
lung, scales (cover skin)
3 chamber heart (except alligators 4 chambers)
First true land lifestyle
adaptations to conserve water: skin (with scales
for protection, prevents evaporation) kidneys
(concentrated urine-liquid waste), amniotic egg
(leathery shell with internal membranes)
internal fertilization
what are Lizards & Snakes
overlapping scales
shed scaly skin
environment: warm
Lizards: 4 legs with clawed toes, tail, ears,
eyelids, 2 lungs; most carnivores; walk/run
Snakes: no legs, streamline body, no ears,
no eyelids, 1 lung; carnivores; slither by
muscle contractions.
what are Turtles
shell (with ribs & backbone) made of
fused scales
beak
herbivores & carnivores
what are Dinosaurs (extinct Reptiles)
earliest vertebrates with legs directly
beneath their bodies
Brachiosaurus walked on 4 legs
Tyrannosaurus rex ran on 2 legs
Ectotherms or First endotherms
First “care for young” behavior
what are Bird Characteristics
endothermic: warm blooded (maintain constant body
temperature by food and feathers)
feathers
hollow bones
air sacs
First Major Group w/ 4 chamber heart
(prevents mixing of O2 rich and O2 poor blood)
eggs (hard shell)
“care for young” behavior (feed & protect until young able to fly)
what are the Adaptation for Flight
hollow bones
wings
large chest muscles
feathers (2 types):
contour feathers- steering & flight
down feathers- trap heat & warmth
air sacs- connected to lungs to obtain more oxygen
how do birds Bird Fly
Bird’s upward curved wing causes faster moving air above
wing (= lower pressure) and slower moving air below wing
(= higher pressure). As the bird moves through the air, the
high to low pressure results in an upward force called lift.
Lift results in flight.
how do they Obtaining Food
Bills – tear, strainer
Crop - internal storage tank
Two part stomach:
Part 1: chemical breakdown
Part 2: gizzard- physical breakdown
with
stones (gastroliths)
what are Origin of the Birds:
Birds are believed to be descended from
Archaeopteryx (a reptilian dinosaur with wings and feathers)
what are Mammal Characteristics
endotherms – warm blooded
4 chamber heart
fur/hair
breast (mammary glands, milk)
“care for young” behavior
lungs with diaphragm
advanced nervous system (complex
brains for problem solving)
highly developed senses (large eyes, sonar,
smell sensitivity)
what are Mammal Adaptations
Teeth Adaptations:
Incisors: cut
Canines: tear, slash
Molars: grind
Cold Environment Adaptations: to keep warm
Food (higher in calories, meat or fish)
Fur/hair
Fat
Movement Adaptations:
walk, run, hop, swing, glide,
swim (w/ flippers)
what are the Three (3) Mammal Groups
Monotremes- lay eggs (primitive)
ex: spiny anteater, duck-billed platypus
Marsupials – partly developed young live in
a pouch.
ex: koala bear, kangaroo, opossum
Placental Mammals – develop inside
mothers body; diverse, subdivided
based
on eating and movement
ex: carnivores (eat meat), marine (swim), rodents
(gnaw), rabbits/hare (hop), trunk, insect eaters, toothless,
hoofed, flying (wing), primates (large brain)
what is a species
TWO SIMILAR ORGANISMS (INDIVIDUALS) CAPABLE OF MATING (= SEX) AND PRODUCING A LIVING BABY (= FERTILE OFFSPRING).
SAME GENUS, DIFFERENT SPECIES = CLOSELY RELATED
DIFFERENT GENUS, SAME SPECIES = DISTANTLY RELATED
what are Amphibian Characteristics
ectothermic: cold-blooded
juvenile life: water (gills),
movement: fins
1 loop circulatory system, 2 chamber heart, herbivores
adult life: land (lungs) but reproduce in water; thin, moist skin
movement: skeleton with muscle, leaping
2 loop circulatory system, 3 chamber heart, camouflage
carnivores
Example:
frog/toad, (loss of tail), external fertilization
salamander/newts (tail), internal fertilization
caecilians (no legs, no scales)
difference between Alligators & Crocodiles
Largest living reptiles
Nocturnal carnivores
First living “care for young” behavior
Alligators: broad, rounded snout, few teeth
(mouth closed); max size: 15 ft, 1000 lbs
Crocodiles: tapered, pointed snout; pencil-like;
many teeth (mouth closed); max size: 17-20 ft,
2300 lbs
