Vertebrates Flashcards
belong to the Phylum ___, a
group of animals characterized by having a ___ , also known as a spinal column or spine. This defining feature separates them from the vast majority of animal life, which are
invertebrates.
Vertebrates
Chordata
Backbone
Classification of vertebrates (8)
• Agnatha (jawless fish)
• Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish)
• Osteichthyes (bony fish)
• Amphibia (amphibians)
• Reptilia (reptiles)
• Aves (birds)
• Mammalia (mammals)
refers to a group of ___ fish.
Agnatha
Jawless
They are some of the earliest vertebrates, with fossils dating back to the ___ Period, over ___ million years ago.
Agnatha
Cambrian
500
Living groups of agnatha (2)
Lampreys
Hagfish
also known as ____ fish, are a diverse group of jawed vertebrates with skeletons made mostly of cartilage rather than bone.
Chondrichthyes
Cartilaginous
Major groups of chondrichthyes (2)
Elasnobranchii
Holocephali
also known as ____ fish, is a
hugely diverse superclass of vertebrate animals that constitute the vast majority of fish
alive today.
Osteocytes
Bony
Major groups of osteichthyes (2) with scientific name
Lobe-finned fish ( Sarcopterygii)
Ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii)
is a group of vertebrates that can live both on land and in water.
Amphibia
Their name comes from the Greek word “amphibios,” which
means “_____”
Amphibia
Living a double life
Major groups of amphibia (3)
Anura ( frogs and toads)
Urodela (salamanders)
Gymnophiona (caecilians)
refers to a class of air-breathing vertebrates that have internal fertilization, amniotic development, and epidermal scales covering all or part of their body.
Reptilia
Major groups of reptilia (4)
Testudines ( Turtles)
Squamata ( Lizards and snakes)
Crocodilia ( crocodile, alligators, caimans and gavials)
Rhynchocephalia ( tuatara)
is the scientific classification for birds distinguished from other animals by several key characteristics, including: feathers, wings, beaks, and eggs.
Aves
