Animals are divided into two classes: invertebrates and vertebrates. They are classified based on the existence of the backbone or also known as a vertebral column.
Vertebrates are animals with backbone. Not only that, vertebrate animals also have a muscular system which consists of primarily of bilaterally paired masses and a central nervous system.
These systems are partly enclosed within the backbone. You can find vertebrate animals anywhere, from the driest of deserts, high reaches of the atmosphere to the canopies of the wettest rainforest. They even exist in the frozen Antarctic or under the deepest part of the oceans.
There are several examples of vertebrate animals: mammals, including humans, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and many more.
Are you curious of the characteristics of vertebrates so that you can notice them? Let’s explore each of these single characteristics of vertebrates.
- They Have Backbones
Vertebrate animals, just like their name, have backbones. Not only backbones, they also have internal skeleton called endoskeleton and muscles attached to their bones.
The endoskeletons of vertebrate animals are mainly made of cartilage and bone.
- Blood Circulating through Blood Vessels and Other Organs
Vertebrate animals have blood which circulates through blood vessels and other organs, such as lungs or gills. This blood circulation is for the exchanging of gasses: oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Some vertebrate animals are small in size. You may find some of vertebrate animals in the list of these smallest animals in the world.
- Protective Skin Covering
Most vertebrate animals have skin covering. Just take a look at mammals and birds. They have thick covering, like fur or feather. For fish, they have scales that function as their external protection.
- Are Ectothermic
Ectothermic means cold-blooded. Most vertebrate animals, such as fishes, amphibians, and reptiles are cold-blooded. They have body temperature that can change in response to temperature changes in the environment.
Meanwhile, other vertebrate animals, such as birds and mammals are warm-blooded. They have constant body temperature regardless of the environment temperature. If you want to know more, read these differences between warm and cold-blooded animals.
- Heterotrophic
Because invertebrates are unable to process their own food, invertebrates are heterotrophic. Heterotrophic animals are animals which get their food from other plants or animals. They are capable of utilizing only organic materials as their source of food.
- Have some Organs for Movement
Vertebrate animals have some organs that enable them to move. Legs, wings and fins are the organs for their movement. Mammals and reptiles are moving with their legs, fishes move with their fins and birds are moving with their fins.
- Have Nervous System with Brain
Unlike invertebrates, vertebrates have well-developed brains. The brains are in charge of processing information from the environment to their body through their sensory organs.
- Reproduce with Sexual Reproduction
All vertebrate animals reproduce with sexual reproduction. Almost all vertebrate animals have separated male and female sexes. The aquatic animals generally have external fertilization.
Meanwhile the terrestrial animals usually have internal fertilization. There are three reproduction strategies, known as ovipary, ovovivipary, or vivipary.
Vertebrates Animals
After knowing all of the characteristics of vertebrates, let’s get to know the examples of animals which belong to the group of vertebrates:
- Mammals
Mammals are animals which have the ability to regulate their body temperature, no matter how the surrounding temperature is. Therefore, mammals are called endothermic animals or warm-blooded animals.
They also have babies that are born live, have fur or hair and produce milk to feed their young. Examples: humans and platypuses.
- Birds
Do you know that birds are called dinosaurs? Indeed, they are called avian dinosaurs. Their characteristics are the existence of feather, toothless beaks, and high metabolic rate. Besides, birds also lay hard-shelled eggs. Get to know these birds with beautiful feathers too and get amazed with their amazing colors!
- Reptiles
Snakes and crocodiles are the examples of reptiles. They are classified as ectothermic animals in nature. They breathe with lungs, most of them lay eggs, and have scales or plates.
- Amphibians
Most amphibians are ectothermic. Most can breath in water with their gills as young and lungs as adults. They go through metamorphosis as well. They also lay jelly-like eggs.
Frogs and salamanders are the examples of amphibians. They have moist skin so that they can breathe and live part of their life in water and part on land.
Animals are interesting to study. If you are interested in animals, then you can read these animals of the Great Barrier Reef and ways animals communicate to each other.