Vertebrates Facts & Worksheets

A vertebrate is a type of animal that belongs to the Vertebrate subphylum and the Chordate phylum. A muscular system and backbones distinguish them. They are some of the most well-known organisms and species in the animal kingdom. With approximately 6,200-6,500 different vertebrate species, they have also been among the most dominant terrestrial animals for billions of years.

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Key Facts & Information

VERTEBRATES

• The term “vertebrate” comes from the Latin word vertebra, which refers to any of the bones or segments of the spinal column. The jointed aspect comes from the concept of turning, conveyed in the word verto or vorto, which means to turn.
• Vertebrates are animal species that have a backbone that extends through the body and includes a skeleton.
• Humans are also vertebrates.
• We automatically think of bones when we hear the word vertebrates.
• The presence of a spinal or vertebral column separates vertebrates from other creatures. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish are among them.
• In these animal species, a bone protects the spinal cord while providing structure and support to the body.
• These animals also have a muscular system composed chiefly of bilaterally paired masses and a central nervous system partially encased inside the backbone.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

• Vertebrates include all animal species in the Vertebrata subphylum, which consists of all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Vertebrates comprise most phylum Chordata, with around 69,963 species currently described.

CHARACTERISTICS

• A vertebrate possesses all of the following characteristics:
  • A strong rod runs the animal’s length (it can be the vertebral column or the notochord).
  • As an embryo, humans and all other vertebrates have a notochord, which eventually develops into the vertebral column.
  • The alimentary canal exists below the vertebral column, and a bundle of nerves runs above it (the spinal cord).
  • The mouth is located in the animal’s anterior region or directly beneath it.
  • The alimentary canal terminates at the anus, which opens to the exterior. The tail follows the anus.

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF VERTEBRATES

• The vertebral column, or backbone, is composed of a series of repeating, or metameric, structures known as vertebrae (singular, vertebra) that run from the head to the tail along the dorsal (upper) side of the body. 
• The vertebral column serves as the central support structure of the endoskeleton, allowing an organism to maintain its shape. It also houses and protects the spinal cord, located within the column. 
• The vertebrate brain is housed in the cranium, or skull, within a well-defined head from which the spinal column extends. As previously stated, the vertebral column (together with the skull) forms the core of the endoskeleton.
• A typical vertebrate endoskeleton, such as the one depicted in the figures, consists of the following components: 
• A vertebral column.
• Girdles for the limbs (hips and shoulders in humans).
• A cranium.
• Limbs/appendages (usually in pairs).
• Arches of the visceral (located in the neck region and form gills, jaws, and middle ear components).

EVOLUTION

• The first animals appeared during the Cambrian explosion 500 to 600 million years ago. 
• They were jawless fish with no vertebral column but a skull to protect their brain. 
• After the fishes, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, birds, and so on evolved. These groups initially possessed an essential vertebrate body with a notochord, vertebrate, and a well-defined head and tail.

VERTEBRATES

• Vertebrates are a diverse collection of animals with various shapes, sizes, colors, habitats, and ecosystems.
• However, similarities allow us to realize how we are all related, even if it doesn’t appear that way on the surface.
• Chordates are all vertebrates, animals with a dorsal, hollow nerve cord, a notochord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail. 
• These characteristics are present only at certain life phases in some chordates, such as humans. 
• Humans have one during embryonic development, and the other characteristics distinguish chordates from other animals.
• All vertebrates are craniates as well. These creatures have the four chordate characteristics but also have a head, making them chordates with heads. 
• Because the term “cranium” implies “skull,” this term is appropriate for us as headed chordates.

NON-VERTEBRATE CHORDATES 

• While all vertebrates are chordates and craniates, the opposite is not necessarily true. 
• Two chordates on Earth lack both a head and a backbone.
• The tunicate is an animal that lives in the sea and resembles a gushing pouch. The other is a lancelet resembling a knife blade floating in the water. While the lancelet has a tiny ‘brain’ at the end of its nerve cord, neither of these animals has a head, yet they are still chordates because they share those four characteristics.
• There are also craniates (and so chordates) that are not vertebrates. 

JAWED VERTEBRATES

• The development of a jaw was a significant step for vertebrates because it allowed them to take advantage of a broader range of feeding opportunities. 
• Having a jaw makes a huge difference when it comes to eating food. Because a jaw requires a head, all jawed vertebrates are also craniates.
• Lungs, rayed, and lobed appendages all evolved after jaws. Modern fish have ray fins, whereas lungfish have lobe fins. These animals’ lobes are especially unusual because the muscular and skeletal support in these appendages allowed life to move out of the water and onto land.

TETRAPODS AND AMNIOTES

• The tetrapods were the first creatures to arrive on land. These are jawed vertebrates with two pairs of limbs (‘tetra’ refers to the four legs).

CLASSIFICATION

• Based on their morphological and anatomical structures, we can classify vertebrates into seven types:
• Class Aves (Birds): Distinguished by their feathers, toothless beaks, and rapid metabolic rate. They also lay eggs with rigid shells.
• Class Mammalia (Mammals): This group of organisms can adjust their body temperature regardless of the temperature outside. They are endothermic animals, which include humans and platypuses.
• Class Amphibia (Amphibians): Ectothermic amphibians such as frogs and salamanders are in this class. Because they lay shell-less eggs, most amphibians require water as a breeding habitat. The young are transformed from totally aquatic larval forms to fully terrestrial forms in this manner.
• Class Reptilia (Reptiles): Ectothermic tetrapods such as snakes, turtles, and crocodiles.
• Class Osteichthyes  (Bony Fishes): Distinguished by a bone-based skeleton. They are also the most numerous class of vertebrates today.
• Class Chondrichthyes  (Cartilaginous Fishes): This class is distinguished by the presence of cartilage rather than by bones in its skeleton. Sharks, skates, rays, and sawfish are examples.

REPRODUCTION

• Vertebrates reproduce sexually, most of which have separate male and female sexes. Vertebrates follow one of these three types of reproduction:
• Vivipary: An embryo’s development within the parent’s body. Instead of laying eggs, this type of reproduction breeds young ones. Humans, dogs, cats, elephants, and so on are examples.
• Ovipary: Occurs when a female animal lays eggs with little or no embryonic development within the mother, and the mother does not nurture the developing embryo within the egg. For example, most fish, amphibians, reptiles, and so on.
• Ovovivipary: These creatures lay eggs and develop them inside the womb or body of another. The eggs hatch inside the mother, replicating her offspring. Sharks, rays, insects, and snakes are some examples.

Vertebrates Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Vertebrates across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Vertebrates, a group of animals characterized by having a backbone or spinal column made of vertebrae.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

• Vertebrates Facts
• I Think Of…?
• I’m A Vertebrate Whose…
• Which is Which?
• Reproduction
• Vertebrate vs. Invertebrate
• Vertebrate Classifications
• Cold and Warm-Blooded
• Animal Profile
• Jingle Making
• Infographics

Frequently Asked Questions About Vertebrates

What are the defining features of vertebrates?

Vertebrates are characterized by having a backbone or spinal column made of vertebrae, which protects the spinal cord and provides support for movement. Other defining features of vertebrates include a well-developed nervous system, a bony or cartilaginous skeleton, a complex sense of hearing, and a muscular system that allows for controlled movements. Additionally, most vertebrates are endothermic, meaning they can regulate their body temperature and have specialized organs for breathing and digestion.

How do vertebrates breathe?

Vertebrates have a variety of methods for breathing, depending on the species and its habitat. Fish, for example, have gills that extract oxygen from water, while reptiles and birds have lungs that extract oxygen from the air. Mammals, including humans, have lungs, but they also have a diaphragm, a muscle that helps control the flow of air into and out of the lungs. Some species, such as whales and dolphins, have adapted to extract oxygen from the air while underwater by holding their breath.

What are the different groups of vertebrates?

Vertebrates are divided into five main groups: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Fish are the earliest and most primitive group of vertebrates and are adapted to life in the water. Amphibians are characterized by their ability to live both on land and in water, and they undergo a unique transformation from a larval stage to an adult stage. Reptiles, such as snakes and lizards, have scaly skin and are adapted to life on land. Birds have feathers, beaks, and a unique system of air sacs in their skeletons that helps them fly. Finally, mammals are characterized by their endothermy, the ability to regulate their body temperature, and the presence of hair or fur.

How do vertebrates reproduce?

Vertebrates have a variety of methods for reproduction, ranging from laying eggs to live birth. Fish, for example, lay eggs that are fertilized outside of the female’s body, while reptiles lay eggs that are fertilized internally. Birds also lay eggs but are incubated and cared for by both parents. On the other hand, mammals have a live birth, in which the offspring develop inside the mother’s uterus until they are born.

Why are vertebrates important?

Vertebrates play a crucial role in many ecosystems as predators and prey. They also play important cultural, economic, and scientific roles in human society. For example, birds and mammals serve as important food sources for humans, while fish play a significant role in commercial and recreational fishing. Vertebrates also play a crucial role in scientific research, providing valuable information about evolution, anatomy, physiology, and behavior. In addition, many vertebrates, such as whales, dolphins, and elephants, have been important symbols in human culture and have played important roles in religious and spiritual beliefs.

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