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Vertebrates (What is a Vertebrate (Characteristics of Chordates (Nerve…

- - - - Chordates also have a nerve cord that runs down their back. It is similar to the spinal cord in humans. Other animals have nerve chords as well but they don't run down their back.
    - - Phylum name Chordata originates from the notochord, a flexible rod. It supports the back. Some Chordates have notochords all of their lives.
    - - At some point in their lives, chordates have pouches in their throat area. In some fish, grooves between the pouches are called gill slits. In many vertebrates, the pouches disappear before birth.
  - - - The spine/backbone is formed of many smaller bones called vertebrae. There are joints in between the vertebrae that give them flexibility. Each vertebra has a hole in it for the spinal cord to run through. '
    - - The backbone is part of the endoskeleton. The endoskeleton protects the internal organs, gives the body shape, and gives muscles a place to attach. The endoskeleton also includes the skull and ribs, which protect the brain and heart, lungs, and other internal organs. The endoskeleton, unlike the exoskeleton, does not need to be replaced when the animal grows.
  - - - Fish, amphibians, and reptiles are ectotherms. They do not produce much internal heat. Their temperature changes based on its environment. They are also known as "Coldblooded."
    - - Endotherms are animals whose body regulates their own temperature. The internal temperature doesn't usually change much, even when the environment's temperature doesn't. Endotherms also have adaptions like fur, sweat glands, and feathers.
- - - - Usually, a fossil's position in a rock can help determine when the fossil was formed if it is in sedimentary rock but this is not reliable because sometimes rocks can get flipped during an earthquake or something like that.
    - - Paleontologists have found that fossils can determine the likely pattern of how an animal has evolved. Fossils show, for example, that fish were the first vertebrates on earth.