Classifying Vertebrates

• Vertebrates - they belong to one of the phyla of the animal kingdom called phylum chordata.

  animals under this phyla consist of a dorsal spinal cord running along the entire length of their body.
• Cartilage (bone): They are the building materials of most vertebrate endoskeletons.
• Vertebral column - strong, flexible structure that animal muscles can pull against during running and other movements.
• Mammals - warm blooded animals (endothermic animals)
• Endothermic - being able to keep body temperature stable even if they are in an extremely hot or cold environment. endothermic animals can produce heat in their body, and must eat regularly in order to maintain thermoregulation.
• Ectothermic animals - it is in contrast with endothermic animals, therefore these types of animals are cold-blooded. They can't make their body temperature stable and it changes with their environment. they need heat to run their body processes and function.
• Mammals: warm-blooded animals, being in control of their body temperature. (their body temperature doesn't change even if their environment does.)
• Monotremes : The monotremes are the egg-laying mammals.

  The duckbill platypus and the spiny anteater are the only living monotremes.
• Marsupials : The marsupials are the pouched mammals, e.g kangaroo, opossum and koala.

  These are born at a very tiny and immature stage, completing their development in their mother's pouch.
• Placentals : The largest and most successful group of mammals are the placentals, having their developing young retained within the uterus of the female until embryonic development is completed. (e.g cats and baboon)
• Reptiles : ectothermic vertebrates, unable to regulate body temperature internally, so they regulate their temp behaviorally.
• Oviparous organisms - egg-laying

  Viviparous organisms - young-laying (parang baby, nagdedevelop in the uterus)
• Amphibians : also cold-blooded animals, they spend a part of their lives in water and on land.
• Tailed amphibians : long bodies and tails.

  salamanders,

  salamanders feed on fish, snails, insects, worms and even other smaller salamanders.

  They are nocturnal ( active at night, like an owl)
• Tailless amphibians : short, squat bodies, and no tails.

  They can live on land and even far away from water.
• Toads have rough and warty skin, and need water for reproduction.
• Frogs: they have thin, moist skin that is loosely attached to their body.
• Birds are endothermic organisms, just like mammals, and are able to maintain their body temperature through food.
• FISHES: Ectothermic animals that have their body temp change when their environment does.