Vertebrates

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Chapter 1 Study GuideClassifying Living Things

Vocabulary

organism: An organism is a living thing. Scientists study organisms to found out how they live.

microscopic: When something is microscopic, it is too small to be seen with the human eye. Scientists use a microscope to observe cells.

protist:Algae and protozoans are the two groups that make up protists.

bacteria: Bacteria are one-celled organisms. Bacteria are the oldest living organisms on Earth.

vertebrate: A vertebrate is an animal with a backbone.invertebrate

:An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone.

vascular plants:

Vascular plants are plants with tubes. These tubes carry water and food through roots, stems, and leaves.

nonvascular plants:

Nonvascular plants, such as mosses, don’t have tubes. They absorb water directly through the surfaces of their cells

Roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil. They also help anchor the plant in the ground.

Stems connect the roots and the leaves. They also carry water and nutrients.

Stems also provide support. They hold the plant up and support its leaves so that they will be in sunlight.

Leaves make food through a process called photosynthesis. In this process, plants use water and nutrients from the soil, carbon dioxide from the air, and energy from sunlight to make sugar.

Photosynthesis also produces oxygen, which plants release into the air. We need this oxygen to breathe.

An animal with a backbone is called a vertebrate. Scientists classify vertebrates into five groups—

Mammals have hair or fur and give birth to live young.

Birds have feathers, which keep them warm and help most of them fly.

Roots, Stems, & Leaves

Reptiles have scaly skin, and most lay their eggs on land. Amphibians begin life in water, but when they are adults, they live on land.

Amphibians return to water to lay eggs. Fish have scales and live their entire lives in water.

Invertebrates

The simplest invertebrates are sponges such as jellyfish and sea anemones. They live in the ocean.

Mollusks have a soft body and a muscular foot, like octopus and squid. Some mollusks have shells. Examples include snails, slugs, mussels, and clams.

The largest group of invertebrates are arthropods. All arthropods have exoskeletons (a skeleton on the outside of its body). Examples include crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.

The largest group of arthropods are insects. Examples include mosquitos, beetles, butterflies, and bees.