What Are Vertebrates And Invertebrates?

an animal with a backbone vertebrate an animal with a backbone

Amphibians begin life in water, but when they are adults, they live on land.

Birds (Aves) have feathers that keep them warm and help most of them fly.

Fish (Ichthyes) have scales and live their entire lives in water.

Mammals have hair and produce milk for their young.

Reptiles have scaly skin, and most lay eggs on land.

Vertebrates are the animals most familiar to us, but they are actually the smallest part of the animal kingdom.

97% of animal species are invertebrates!

an animal without a backbone invertebrate an animal without a backbone

Porifera: sponges, jellyfish, anemones, and corals.

Annelids: earthworms, roundworms, and flatworms.

Mollusks: octopus, squid, snails, clams, oysters and cuttlefish.

Echinoderms: starfish, sand dollars, and sea urchins.

have jointed legs and exoskeletons arthropods have jointed legs and exoskeletons

Crustaceans: crab, lobster, and shrimp.

Insects: beetles, mosquitoes, butterflies, and bees.

Arthropods are the largest phylum of invertebrates, and insects are the largest class of arthropods.

Arachnids: spiders, scorpions, and ticks.

Scientists use two criteria when classifying living things: Structure Function