II. Characteristics:
II. Characteristics Vertebrates share certain characteristics: They have backbones , an internal skeleton known as an endoskeleton , and muscles . Blood that circulates through blood vessels and lungs (or gills ) for breathing. A protective skin covering. Most have legs , wings , or fins for movement. All have a nervous system with a brain that processes information from their environment through sensory organs.
III. Differences:
III. Differences Vertebrates differ in the way that they control their body temperature: In some (fishes, amphibians, and reptiles), their body temperature stays close to that of their environment. They are considered cold-blooded , or ectothermic . Birds and mammals have body temperatures that stay constant regardless of the temperature of their surrounding environment. They are called warm-blooded , or endothermic .
IV. Examples of Vertebrates:
IV. Examples of Vertebrates 1) Fish Are cold -blooded or ectothermic animals. They get dissolved oxygen in water through their gills . Most lay eggs and have scales They have fins for movement and live in water .
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2) Amphibians Amphibians are cold -blooded or ectothermic animals. Most can breathe in water with gills as young, and breathe on land with lungs as adults after they go through metamorphosis . They lay jelly-like eggs . The major groups include frogs , toads , and salamanders . Frogs and salamanders have smooth, moist skin , that allows them to breathe and live part of their life in water and part on land . Toads have thicker , bumpy skin and live on land .
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3) Reptiles Reptiles are cold -blooded or ectothermic animals. They breathe with lungs . Most lay eggs , although in some the eggs hatch inside the female. They have scales or plates.
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4) Birds Birds are warm -blooded (endothermic). They breathe with lungs . They lay eggs . They have feathers and a beak, two wings, and two feet.
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5) Mammals Mammals are warm -blooded (endothermi c) . They breathe with lungs . Most have babies that are born live . They produce milk to feed their young. They have fur or hair .