Vertebrate Unit

Question 1

What are chordate characteristics?

Answer 1

flexible rod (pre-backbone / vertebral
column), nerve cord (pre-spinal cord) running down back
and slits in the throat area.
Phylum Chordata: all vertebrates, few invertebrates

Question 2

What are some vertebrate characteristics?

Answer 2

Endoskeleton
endo = inside
protects organs, body shape/support, muscle attachment
backbone (vertebral column, “spine”)
protects the spinal cord and provides flexibility

Question 3

What is an Ectotherm?

Answer 3

an animal whose body temperature is close to the temperature of their environment; its body does not produce much internal heat ;cold-blooded.

Question 4

What is an Endotherm?

Answer 4

an animal whose body temperature is stable and often warmer than their environment; its body regulates its own temperature by controlling the internal heat it produces;warm-blooded.

Question 5

What are fish characteristics?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

How are fish classified?

Answer 6

Jawless fish-Agnatha
Cartilagenous fish-Chondrichthyess
Bony fish-Osteichthyes

Question 7

What are Jawless fish characteristics?

Answer 7

No jaws
No scales
Cartilage skeleton

Question 8

What are cartilaginous fish characteristics?

Answer 8

Jaws
Scales
Cartilage skeleton

Question 9

What are bony fish characteristics?

Answer 9

Jaws
Scales
Bone skeleton
Gill pocket with flap
Swim bladder(internal gas-filled sac

Question 10

What are Amphibian characteristics?

Answer 10

ectothermic: cold-blooded
juvenile life: water (gills),
movement: fins
1 loop circulatory system, 2 chamber heart, herbivores

Question 11

What are the characteristics of an amphibian’s adult life?

Answer 11

land (lungs) but reproduce in water; thin, moist skin
movement: skeleton with muscle, leaping
2 loop circulatory system, 3 chamber heart, camouflage
carnivores

Question 12

What are the characteristics of a lizard?

Answer 12

4 legs with clawed toes, tail, ears,
eyelids, 2 lungs; most carnivores; walk/run

Question 13

What are the characteristics of a snake?

Answer 13

no legs, streamline body, no ears,no eyelids, 1 lung; carnivores; slither by
muscle contractions

Question 14

What are the characteristics of an alligator?

Answer 14

broad, rounded snout, few teeth
(mouth closed); max size: 15 ft, 1000 lbs

Question 15

What are the characteristics of a crocodile?

Answer 15

tapered, pointed snout; pencil-like;many teeth (mouth closed); max size: 17-20 ft, 2300 lbs

Question 16

What are the characteristics of a turtle?

Answer 16

shell (with ribs & backbone) made of
fused scales
beak
herbivores & carnivores

Question 17

What are the characteristics of a bird?

Answer 17

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), internal fertilization

Question 18

What the adaptions for flight?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

How do birds obtain food?

Answer 19

Bills – tear, strainer
Crop - internal storage tank
Two part stomach:
Part 1: chemical breakdown
Part 2: gizzard- physical breakdown with stones (gastroliths)

Question 20

What are the roles of a bird?

Answer 20

pollinators
disperse seeds
pest predators

Question 21

What are the characteristics of a mammal?

Answer 21

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)

Question 22

What are the adaptations of a mammal?

Answer 22

Teeth Adaptations:
Incisors: cut
Canines: tear, slash
Molars: grind
Cold Environmental Adaptations: to keep warm, Food (higher in calories, meat or fish), Fur/hair, Fat
Movement Adaptations:
walk, run, hop, swing, glide,
swim (w/ flippers)

Question 23

What are monotremes?

Answer 23

lay eggs (primitive), one of three mammal group

Question 24

What are Marsupials?

Answer 24

partly developed young live in
a pouch, one of three mammal group

Question 25

What are Placental Mammals?

Answer 25

develop inside mothers body; diverse, subdivided, based
on eating and movement, one of three mammal group