Question: Who are the vertebrates?

Answer: Vertebrates are animals with a spinal cord and a

backbone.

Does this animal have a backbone?

Sheep

Lobster

Snake

Lady Bug

Butterfly

Monkey

Turtle

Fish are Vertebrates

Can you see the backbones?

Fun facts about fish!

Fish use gills to extract oxygen from the water.

Fish lay their eggs in water.

Most fish have fins to help them swim.

Amphibians are Vertebrates

What is an Amphibian?• Start their lives in water• Live mostly on land when they are grown up• Smooth skin• Breath through their skin and lungs• Cold Blooded

Let’s see some examples!

SalamandersFrogs

Toads

Amphibians: The Life Cycle of a Frog

Egg in the water

Turns into a tadpole

Tadpole starts to

grow legs

Tadpole looses its

tail and . . .

Becomes a frog

that lives on land!

Reptiles are Vertebrates

•What is a reptile?•Covered in scales•Breath with lungs•Lay hard or soft-shelled eggs•Spend most of their lives in water•Cold blooded

Let’s see some examples!

Reptiles

Snakes

Turtles

Alligators and Crocodiles

Lizards

Amphibians vs. Reptiles

What’s the difference? How are they the same?

Snakes

Frogs

Turtles

vs.

Salamanders

Birds are Vertebrates

• Birds are covered with feathers and have wings

• Not all birds can use their wings to fly• Hollow or partially hollow bones make birds

lighter so that they can fly

Can I fly?

Owl

Ostrich

Eagle

CrowPenguin

Mammals are Vertebrates

What is a mammal?• Hair on their bodies• Nurse their young• Breath using lungs and air• Most, but not all, give birth to live young

(instead of incubating an egg)• Warm blooded

There are Three Groups of Mammals

1. Monotremes- These mammals lay eggs

2. Marsupials- Young are born immature and grow in their mother’s

pouch

3. Placental Mammals- Unborn young are nourished through a placenta

Let’s see some examples!

Monotremes

Spiny AnteaterDuck-Billed Platypus

These mammals lay eggs; after the babies hatch, the mothers nourish their young with milk. Today, monotremes live only in Australia and New Guinea.

Marsupials

Kangaroo

Koala Bear

Sugar Glider

Find more marsupials here: Marsupials!

Placental Mammals

There are so many placental mammals! Let’s go to this website to explore some

examples!

Click Here to Explore!

Time to test your knowledge of animals with backbones and play

some games!