Vertebrate

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Vertebrate[edit | edit source]

Illustration of various vertebrates

Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata (also known as Craniata) within the phylum Chordata. They are characterized by having a backbone or spinal column, which is a part of an internal skeleton that also includes a skull to protect the brain. Vertebrates include the majority of the large animals on Earth, both in terms of size and ecological impact.

Characteristics[edit | edit source]

Vertebrates are distinguished by their vertebral column, which replaces the notochord found in other chordates during development. They also possess a more complex nervous system and a more advanced brain than invertebrates. Vertebrates have a closed circulatory system with a heart that pumps blood through a network of arteries and veins.

Body Plan[edit | edit source]

The basic body plan of vertebrates includes a head, trunk, and usually a tail. The head houses the brain and sensory organs, while the trunk contains the main body cavity and organs. Vertebrates have a bilateral symmetry and a coelom, which is a fluid-filled body cavity.

Diagram of a vertebrate body plan

Evolution[edit | edit source]

The earliest vertebrates appeared in the Cambrian period, over 500 million years ago. These early vertebrates were jawless fish, such as Haikouichthys and Myllokunmingia. Over time, vertebrates evolved to include jawed fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Haikouichthys, an early vertebrate

Fish[edit | edit source]

Fish are the most diverse group of vertebrates, with over 30,000 species. They are primarily aquatic and have gills for breathing underwater. Fish can be divided into jawless fish, cartilaginous fish, and bony fish.

Gills of a fish

Amphibians[edit | edit source]

Amphibians are vertebrates that live both in water and on land. They typically have a larval stage in water and an adult stage on land. Amphibians include frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts.

Reptiles[edit | edit source]

Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates that lay eggs and have scaly skin. They include snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles.

Birds[edit | edit source]

Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates characterized by feathers, beaks, and laying hard-shelled eggs. They are adapted for flight, although some species are flightless.

Mammals[edit | edit source]

Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates with hair or fur and mammary glands that produce milk for their young. They include a wide range of species, from tiny rodents to large whales.

Related Pages[edit | edit source]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Various vertebrates

  • Vertebrate body plan

  • Dinosaur fossils

  • Fish gills

  • Haikouichthys

  • Acanthostega

  • Hyperodapedon

  • Fossil bird

  • Fish evolution

  • Amphioxus

  • Salpa

  • White shark

  • Common carp

  • Coelacanth

  • Barramunda

  • Ichthyostega

  • Rat

  • Python

  • Dwarf crocodile

  • Pelican

  • Myllokunmingia

  • Anaspida

  • Conodont

  • Dunkleosteus

  • Hagfish

  • Lamprey

  • Shark

  • Golden fish

  • Coelacanth

  • Frog

  • Hare

  • Mallard duck

  • Vertebrate

  • Vertebrate

  • Vertebrate

  • Vertebrate

  • Vertebrate

  • Vertebrate

  • Vertebrate

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD