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What is a Vertebrate (Characteristics of Chordates (Nerve Cord in Back…
What is a Vertebrate
Characteristics of Chordates
Nototchord
The phylum name Chordata comes from the notochord
In vertebrates part of the nototchord is replaced with a backbone
Nerve Cord in Back
All chordates have a nerve cord that runs down their back
The nerve cord is the connection between the brain and the nerves, on which messages travel back and forth
Many other groups of animals have nerve cords but their cords don't run down their backs
Slits in Throat Area
At some point in their lives chordates have slits down their throat are called pharyngeal
Some organisms keep theses slits as part of their gills
But in many vertebrates, including humans, pharyngeal slits disappear before birth
Intro
Vertebrates like the ancient jawless fish are a subgroup in the phylum Chordata
A few chordates are invertebrates
At some point in their lives chordates will have a notochord, a nerve cord that runs down their back, and slits in their throat area
Characteristics of vertebrates
Backbone
Each vertebrate has a hole in it that allows the spinal cord to pass through it
Internal Skeleton
The endoskeleton protects the internal organs of the body, and gives muscles a place to attach
Unlike an exoskeleton, an endoskeleton dosent need to be replaced as the animals grows
Vertebrates can grow bigger than animals with exoskeletons or no skeletons at all
Intro
A vertebrate has a backbone that is part of an internal skeleton
Keeping Conditions Stable
Ectotherms
An ectotherm is an animals whose body does not produce much internal heat
Ectotherms are sometimes called coldblooded even though their blood is often warm
Endotherms
An endotherm is an animal whose body regulates its own temperature by controlling the internal heat it produces
Endptherms live in a greater variety of environments than ectotherms can
Intoro
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 warmer tan their environment