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What is a Vertebrate? (Characteristics of Chordates- (Notochord (This is a…
What is a Vertebrate?
Characteristics of Chordates-
Notochord
This is a flexible rod the supports a chordate's back. Some chordates have these all their lives but invertebrates notochord is relplaced by a backbone.
Nerve Cord in the Back
They all have a nerve cord that runs down their back. it is connected between nerves and the brain.
Slits in Throat Area
At some point in their lives chordates have these. They are called pharyngeal. Some keep them forever like fish. But many vertebrates, including us, slits disappear.
All members of this phylum are called chordates. All vertebrates are chordates but some can be invertebrates. At some point in their lives, chordates will have all of the 3 elements below.
Keeping Conditions Stable
Ectothermes
This is an animal whose body does not produce internal heat. It's temp. changes depending on the temp. of its environment.
Another name for this is cold blooded aniamls
Endotherms
This is an animal whose body regulates its own body temp. by controlling the internal heat it produces.
They have adaptations that help them survive in every kind of wether.
Some animals rely on the outside for body temperature but others have stable internal conditions.
Characteristics of Vertebrates
Backbone
(also called a spine)
runs down the center of the back
each piece of the structure is called a vertebrate and they are lined up like beads on a string.
the different joints between each bone are what gives the back flexibility
there is a bone that passes through each vertebrate like your finger and a ring.
Internal Skeleton
the backbone is part of the vertebrates endoskeleton
this protects the animals internal organs
it also gives muscle a place to attach
endoskeleton includes ribs and skull
skull- protects brain
ribs- protect heart
the endoskeleton does need replacing unlike arthropods
allows it to move easy and pull agents gravity
because of these characteristic vertebrates can grow bigger then animals with an exoskeleton or that doesn't have any bones at all.
a vertebrate is an animal with a backbone that is part of there endoskeleton
this endoskeleton allows it to move.