Survey of the Vertebrates

Examples: Fish Sharks (cartilaginous); Salmon; Catfish

Examples: Amphibians Frogs; salamanders; newts; toads

Examples: Reptiles Snakes; turtles; crocodiles

Examples: Birds Parrots; eagles; flamingos; penguins; peacocks; etc…..

Examples: Mammals Elephants; pigs; mice; kangaroos; humans; etc…

Feeding/Digestion – Fish Some are predators, some are filter feeders Jaws allow them to eat a wide variety of food

Feeding/Digestion – Amphibians Many catch their prey by flicking out an elongated tongue with a sticky tip and drawing it back into the mouth before seizing the item with their jaws

Feeding/Digestion – Reptiles Most are insectivorous or carnivorous (simple to digest) Usually do not masticate (chew) their food Some swallow pebbles to help in digestion

Feeding/Digestion – Birds Varied diet (nectar, fruit, plants, seeds, insects, and small animals, including other birds) Beaks suggest diet Because birds have no teeth, their digestive system is adapted to process unmasticated food that is swallowed whole

Feeding/Digestion – Mammals Can be carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores Have different types of teeth that reflect their diet Many masticate their food or rip the food up into pieces Have very efficient digestive tract

Movement – Fish Swim by exerting force against the surrounding water In general fish contract muscles on either side of their bodies

Movement – Amphibians For some, body movements are similar to fish Some move by jumping Many are tetrapods (have four limbs)

Movement – Reptiles Limbs project nearly perpendicular from the body and bend downward toward the ground at the elbows and knees Some are adapted to swimming (turtles) Some don’t have limbs (snakes)

Movement – Birds In order to fly, bird’s skeletons generally have bones that are fused and hollow Have very strong breast muscles Birds that dive into water have more substantial bones

Movement – Mammals Evolved so that their legs are directly under them for more efficient movement Adapted to move on land, in the water, and in the air Bodies tend to make an up-and-down rather than side-to-side motion

Respiration: Fish Gills take oxygen out of the water Ectothermic metab. (“cold blooded”)

Respiration: Amphibians Most get oxygen using lungs (Lungs are less effective than gills, but they don’t need to be as effective as gills because air has MUCH more oxygen than water does) Many respire through moist skin Ectothermic

Respiration: Reptiles Lungs have a larger surface area, so they can get more oxygen in one breath than amphibians can Strong muscles in rib cage move air into and out of lungs quickly, maximizing lung efficiency Ectothermic

Respiration: Birds Lungs They have air-sacs which are O 2 reservoirs to keep a constant flow of fresh air through the lungs Endothermic (warm blooded) m/watch?v=iigxJXFJF4U (1:53min) m/watch?v=iigxJXFJF4U

Respiration: Mammals Lungs of mammals have LARGE internal surface area (more gas exchange per breath) Aided by a diaphragm which enlarges abdominal cavity drawing air in Endothermic

Circulation: Fish Single-loop circulatory system Blood travels from the gills to the body to the heart and back to the gills Hearts have two chambers (one atrium and one ventricle)

Circulation: Amphibians Double-loop circulatory system Hearts have 3 chambers (2 atria & 1 ventricle) More efficient oxygen transport

Circulation: Reptiles 3 chamber heart - but the lower chamber (ventricle) is partially divided, reducing the mixing of oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich blood This causes oxygenated blood to be transported more efficiently

Circulation: Birds Have four heart chambers and a double-loop circulatory system (most efficient so far…) Their hearts also beat very fast when extra oxygen is needed

Circulation: Mammals Mammals have a 4-chambered heart This ensures only oxygen rich blood gets to the tissues

Reproduction: Fish Most reproduce sexually through external fertilization in a process called spawning During spawning – a female fish releases eggs into the water – then, a male fish swims over them and releases sperm

Reproduction: Amphibians Amphibians are still tied to the water because it is where they reproduce They reproduce sexually by external fertilization

Reproduction: Reptiles “Amniote” Reptilian eggs are fertilized internally (protects gamete from drying out on land) Many reptiles are oviparous – Young hatch from egg laid outside of mother’s body – Eggs of these reptiles are not protected Some reptiles are ovoviviparous – Fertilized eggs remain inside female’s body – Eggs of these reptiles are protected

Reproduction: Birds “Amniote” Internal fertilization Amniotic egg w/ hard shell (prevents drying out) Birds usually care for their eggs and for their young Nests are built to protect eggs Monogamy common

Reproduction: Mammals “Amniote” Internal fertilization occurs Parental care in mammals is quite different from other vertebrates –Young mammals depend on their mothers for a relatively long time –They receive food, protection and shelter from her Females produce milk in mammary glands