By

Michelle A. O’Malley

League Academy of Communication ArtsForward

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Diagram

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VertebratesVertebrates

FISHFISH REPTILESREPTILES

BIRDSBIRDS MAMMALSMAMMALS AMPHIBIANSAMPHIBIANS

What do you know about vertebrates? What are three functions of a backbone?

What do you know about vertebrates? Explain how Explain how ectotherms and ectotherms and endotherms differ in endotherms differ in the way they control the way they control their body temperature.their body temperature.

What do you know about

vertebrates? What two groups of present-day vertebrates are the descendants of reptiles?

VERTEBRATES

FISHhttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science

/Animals/AnimalIndexV.htm

AMPHIBIANShttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science

/Animals/AnimalIndexV.htm

REPTILEShttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Scie

nce/Animals/Reptiles.htm

BIRDShttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/

Science/Animals/Birds.htm

MAMMALShttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science/Animals/Mammals.htm

Standard 6-3.1: Vertebrates• Animals with backbones• Vertebrates share other physical characteristics; for

example– a protective skin covering– an inside skeleton– muscles– blood that circulates through blood vessels– lungs (or gills) for breathing.

• Vertebrates have legs or fins for movement• Vertebrates have a nervous system with brains that process

information from their environments through sensory organs, such as ears or tongues

• Vertebrates also contain many highly developed systems associated with their specialized organs.

• There are thousands of species of vertebrates divided into five groups: fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds.

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Standard 6-3.1: Vertebrates - Fish

• Fish have backbones

• Fish are cold-blooded (ectothermic)

• Fish obtain dissolved oxygen in water through gills

• Most fish lay eggs

• Fish have scales

• Fish have fins

• Fish live in the water FISHhttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science

/Animals/AnimalIndexV.htm

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Standard 6-3.1: Vertebrates - Amphibians

• Amphibians have backbones• Amphibians are cold-blooded (ectothermic)• Amphibians can breathe in water with gills early

in life, and breathe on land with lungs as adults• Amphibians go through metamorphosis and lay

jelly-like eggs• The major groups of amphibians are frogs, toads,

and salamanders• Frogs and salamanders have smooth, moist skin,

through which they can breathe; and live part of their life in water and part on land.

• Toads have thicker, bumpy skin and live on land.

AMPHIBIANShttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science

/Animals/AnimalIndexV.htm

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• Reptiles have backbones• Reptiles are cold-blooded (ectothermic)• Reptiles breathe with lungs• Most Reptiles lay eggs; although in

some the eggs hatch inside the female• Reptiles have scales or plates

Standard 6-3.1: Vertebrates - Reptiles

REPTILEShttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Scie

nce/Animals/Reptiles.htm

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• Mammals have backbones

• Mammals are warm-blooded (endothermic)

• Mammals breathe with lungs

• Mammals have babies that are born live

• Mammals have fur or hair

• Mammals produce milk to feed their young

Standard 6-3.1: Vertebrates - Mammals

MAMMALShttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science/Animals/

Mammals.htm

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• Birds have backbones

• Birds are warm-blooded (endothermic)

• Birds Breathe with lungs

• Birds Lay eggs

• Birds have feathers

• Birds have a beak, two wings, and two feet

Standard 6-3.1: Vertebrates - Birds

BIRDShttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science/

Animals/Birds.htm

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What are three functions of a backbone?

• The backbone supports the body, gives the body flexibility, and protects the spinal cord.

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Explain how ectotherms and endotherms differ in the way they

control their body temperature.

• The body temperature of ectotherms changes depending on the temperature of environment. Endotherms have bodies that control internal body heat and therefore maintain nearly constant body temperature.

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What two groups of present-day vertebrates are the descendants of

reptiles?

• Birds and mammals

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Works CitedWorks CitedScience Explorer: Animals by Jan Jenner,

Ph.D., Prentice-Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 2000.

Graphics from Microsoft Office and cited information under each graphic

Greenville County Schools Science Curriculum Support Guide

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