Vertebrates and Invertebrates

Animals can be classified into 2 groups. The Vertebrates are animals with backbone. The Invertebrates are animals without a backbone. Run you hand down your back. Do you feel the bumpy bones? That is your backbone. You are a vertebrate.

There are 5 groups of vertebrates:

(here is a brief description to help you remember)

* mammals- blooded animals that have hair or fur and are born alive

*birds- warm blooded animals that have feathers and lay eggs.

*fish- cold blooded animals that have scales, gills, and fins and lay eggs

*reptiles- cold blooded animals that have scales, lungs and lay eggs

*amphibians- cold blooded animals that have a smooth skin and can live on land or in water

There are many groups of Invertebrates:

Here are four of the main ones:

(here is a brief description to help you remember)

*annelids- cold blooded animlas that have a soft body with sections

*echinoderms- cold blooded animlas that have bodies with rough skin and sharp spines

*mollusks- cold blooded animals with a soft body and sometimes a hard shell

*arthropods- cold blooded animals with jointed legs

Let's see how much you know. Click here to take a quiz to check your vertebrate and invertebrate knowledge.

Kingdom of Life

Introduction

The 5 Kingdoms

Vertebrates/Invertebrates

Resources