Download Vertebrates - Madison County Schools

Vertebrates
Classifying the Backboned Animals
Classifying Vertebrates
 Vertebrates can be classified into two groups using this
characteristic:
Cold-blooded
Warm-blooded
These animals get heat from outside
their bodies. The body temperature
changes with the temperature of its
surroundings.
The body temperature does not
change much. They use energy from
food to keep a constant temperature.
**If the outside temps change, so
does its body temperature.
**Cold air temperature means cold
body temperature.
**If body temp changes much, this
could mean sickness (like a fever for
humans).
Reptiles
cold-blooded
vertebrate
dry, scaly skin
lays eggs
strong,
waterproof
skin
many have four
legs, but some
have none
breathes with lungs
can live in many environments, both dry and wet
frog
Amphibians
vertebrate
most have 4 legs
breathe through lungs,
skin, and gills during
different parts of life
toad
life cycle includes larva stage (tadpoles)
salamander
cold-blooded
lays eggs; usually in a jelly-like mass in water
moist skin
All amphibians live near water
so their skin won’t dry out.
Frogs spend half their lives in
water and half on land.
Fish
cold-blooded
vertebrate
covered by scales
lays eggs in water
some species only live
in freshwater (rivers,
lakes) and some only
live in saltwater (ocean)
life cycle includes larva stage
eyes usually on side
of head
breathes through gills
have fins and streamlined bodies to help them
glide through water
warm-blooded
vertebrate
Birds
have waterproof feathers
live on land; found in all
environments
lay hard-shelled eggs
breathe
with lungs
and have
air sacs
all birds have wings and beaks
hollow bones allow birds to fly
not all birds
can fly
Mammals
warm-blooded
vertebrate
most have body hair or fur
breathe
through
lungs
large,
well-developed
brains
reproduce by live birth
nurse their young with milk
different kinds of teeth
for eating different foods
most live on land