Vertebrates

• Vertebrates are animals with a supporting rod running along the length of their body
• There are 5 main groups of vertibrates, they are:

  • Fish
  • Amphibians
  • Reptiles
  • Birds
  • Mammals
• Characteristics of fish:

  • They breath using gills
  • Have skin covered in scales
  • A skeleton made up of cartilage
• Characteristics of Reptiles:

  • Has rough dry skin
  • Lay eggs with leathery shells on land
  • Have lungs for breathing air
• Characteristics of Amphibians:

  • Adults have lungs for breathing while tadpoles have gills
  • A soft skin with no scales
  • Can survive on land but return to water to lay eggs
• Characteristics of birds:

  • Covered with feathers
  • Beaks for feeding
  • Lungs for breathing
• Characteristics of mammals:

  • Have hair on atleast some part of the body
  • Lungs for breathing
  • Young ones fed on milk from mammary glands