What Is a Vertebrate
Characteristics of Chordates
Chordates will have a notochord, a nerve cord that runs down their backs, at some point in their life.
Notochord
a notochord is a flexible rpod that supports a chordates back
in vertabrites part or all of the notochord is replaced by a backbone
Nerve cord in back
all cordates have a nerve chord running dowen their backs and this chord connects the brain and the nerves
Some non vertabrates have nerve chords but they dont run down their back
Slits in Throat Area
At some point in their life all chordates have slits in their throught area called pharyngeal slits
Characteristics of Vertabrates
Most chordates are vertabrates
Vertabrates have backbones that are part of their internal skeleton
Backbone
The backbone in vertabrates is a bunch of vertabrea, many bones with holes in the middle, attached together with the spinal cord runing through it
A backbone is also called a spine
The backbone is flexible because it is a bunch of vertebray attached together like beads on a string
Internal skeleton
an internal skeleton or an endoskeleton, is a series of bones that are on the inside of a vertabrates body
Bones in the endoskeleton include the skull, the ribs, and sometimes arm and leg bones
Animals with internal skeletons can grow larger than animals without because an endoskeleton supports the animal from with its gravitational pull
Keeping Conditions Stable
Ectotherms
The body temp of most reptiles, amphibians, and fishes is close to the temp of their environment. The body temp of mammals and birds is usually warmer than their environment
Ectotherms are animals that dont produce much internal heat which means they have to get warmth from their environment
Reptiles, fishes, and amphibians are ectotherms
Endotherms
Endotherms produce their own body heat so their body temp doesn't very much from normal even when their environment changes
Endotherms have other adaptions like skin, fur or feathers to help maintain their body temp, also sweat glands help cool the body off