CLASSIFYING ANIMALS AS TO THE PRESENCE OF BACKBONE

VERTEBRATES

ANIMALS WITH BACKBONES ARE CALLED VERTEBRATES. FISHES, AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES, AND MAMMALS ALL HAVE BACKBONES AND THEREFORE CLASSIFIED AS VERTEBRATES

INVERTEBRATES

ANIMALS WITHOUT BACKBONES ARE CALLED INVERTEBRATES. WORMS, CLAMS, JELLYFISH, FLIES, AND SPIDERS ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF INVERTEBRATES.

CLASSIFYING THE VERTEBRATES

MAMMAL

• MOST MAMMALS DO NOT LAY EGGS. THEY GAVE BIRTH TO THEIR YOUNG. THEY FEED THEIR YOUNG WITH MILK PRODUCED IN THE MAMMARY GLANDS.

• EXAMPLES ARE DOGS, CATS, COWS, GOATS, PIGS, ELEPHANTS

DUCK BILLED PLATYPUS MAMMAL THAT LAYS EGG

BIRDS BIRDS ARE COVERED WITH FEATHERS. THEY LAY EGGS THAT HAVE FIRM SHELLS. ALL BIRDS HAVE ONE PAIR OF FEET AND ONE PAIR OF WINGS.

EXAMPLES ARE HENS, EAGLE, HAWK, VULTURE, OSTRICH AND KIWI

REPTILES

REPTILES HAVE BODIES THAT ARE COVERED WITH SCALES OR PLATES. THEY LAYTHEIR EGGS ON LAND. THEY CAN LIVE ON

LAND AND ON WATER, CROCODILE AND TURTLES ARE EXAMPLES OF REPTILES.

AMPHIBIANSAMPHIBIANS SUCH AS FROGS AND SALAMANDERS LIVE A DOUBLE LIFE.

THEY LIVE PART OF THEIR LIVES WHILE THEY ARE YOUNG IN WATER. WHEN THEY MATURE, THEY LIVE ON LAND TO SURVIVE. ALL AMPHIBIANS LAY EGGS ON WATER.

FISHMOST FISH ARE COVERED WITH SCALES. SOME ARE EGG LAYERS; OTHERS ARE LIVE BEARES. THEY SPEND ALL OF THEIR LIVES IN WATER. FISH HAVE GILLS WHICH ARE USED FOR BREATHING.

CLASSIFYING INVERTEBRATES

PHYLUM COMMON NAME

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

PORIFERA SPONGES PORE-BEARING ANIMALS

PHYLUM COMMON NAME

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

CNIDARIA HYDRAS HOLLOWINTESTINED

ANIMALS

PHYLUM COMMON NAME

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC

S

PLATYHELMINTHES FLATWORMSFLATTENEDELONGATEDWORMLIKEANIMALS

PHYLUM COMMON NAME DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

ANNELIDS EARTHWORMSLEECHES

ELONGATEDWORMLIKE

ANIMALS WITH EXTERNALLY

EVIDENT SEGMENTATION

PHYLUM COMMON NAME DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

MOLLUSK SNAILS, CLAMSSQUIDS

SOFT BODIED ANIMALS USUALLY LIVING IN A SHELL OR EXOSKELETONS

PHYLUM COMMON NAME DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

NEMATODES ROUNDWORMS

ELONGATED, UNSEGMENTED,

WORMLIKE ANIMALS.

THREADLIKE ANIMALS

PHYLUM COMMON NAME

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

ANTROPHODS

INSECTSCRABS

SPIDERSCENTIPEDES

SEGMENTED ANIMALS WITH

HARDENED OUTER SKELETON AND

JOINTED APPENDAGES

PHYLUM COMMON NAME

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

ECHINODERMSSTARFISH

SEA URCHIN

SPINY-SKINNEDANIMALS