What is a Vertebrate?
Characteristics of Chordates
Nerve Cord in Back
Slits in Throat Area
Notochord
Characteristics of Vertebrates
A vertebrate has a backbone that is part of an internal skeleton
Internal Skeleton
Backbone
Keeping Conditions Stable
The body temperature of most fishes amphibians and reptiles is close to the temperature of their environment. In contrast birds and mammals have a stable body temperature that is often warmer than their environment.
Endotherms
Ectotherms
Most chordates, including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are vertebrates
At some point in their lives, chordates with have a notochord, a verve cord that runs down their back, and slits into their throat area.
A notochord is a flexable rod that supports a chrodates back. Some chordates have them forever and some of them turn into back bones
A nerve cord runs down the animals back. A connection between the brain and the nerves on which messages travel back and forth
Slits in their throat called Pharyngeal slits, or gill slits. Some chordates have these their whole lives like fish but some like humans get rid of them before birth
Backbone is formed by many similar bones called vertebrate. They are line sup in a row like beads on a string. Joints between the vertebrate give the spine flexability
Endoskeleton protect the internal organs of the body and helps give the body shape and gives muscles a place to attach. Unlike in arthropods exoskeleton, And endoskeleton doesn’t need to be replaced as the animal grows
Fishes, amphibians, and reptiles are ectotherms. An ectotherm is an animal whose body does not produce much internal heat. Body temp. changes based on environment
The Beaver is an example of an endotherm- an animal whose body regulates its own temperature by controlling the internal heat and produces. An endotherm’s body temperature usually does not change much even when the temperature of its environment changes.
Endotherm’s also have other adoptions, such as sweat glands and for our fathers, for maintaining their body temperature.