Vertebrate Zoology Domain Eukarya Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Sub-phylum Vertebrata

Phylum Chordata Chordates have a nerve cord on the dorsal side of their bodies.

Sub-Phylum Vertebrata Bony covering over the spinal cord / nerve cord. Vertebra – singular Vertebrae – plural

Fishes Ichthyology is the study of the fishes Characteristics scales-not all have scales (ex. Catfish) ectothermic (cold-blooded) aquatic sexual reproduction external fertilization (in most cases) lateral line swim bladder gills (except lung fishes) Key Sentence: Fishes have endoskeletons, gills, closed-loop circulation, and kidneys.

Class Agnatha Jawless fishes –Ex. Lamprey –Ex. Hagfish

Class Chodrichthyes Cartilage skeletons (no bones) –Sharks –Skates –Rays

Class Osteichthyes Bony Fishes –Ray-finned fishes Most diversity –Lung fishes –Lobe-finned fishes Ex. Coelocanth

Class Amphibia Characteristics –Ectothermic –Smooth, moist skin –No claws on toes if toes are present –Aquatic and terrestrial –Have to return to water to reproduce –Sexual reproduction –External fertilization Key Sentence: Most of these amphibians share five key characteristics: legs, lungs, double-loop circulation, a partially divided heart, and cutaneous respiration.

Class Amphibia Anura – no tail ex. Toads & frogs Urodela – visible tail ex. Salamanders & newts Apoda – no legs ex. Caecilians Trachystoma – rough mouthed ex. Sirens, mudpuppy, hellbender

Class Reptilia Characteristics –Ecotothermic –Aquatic & terrestrial –Sexual reproduction –Internal fertilization –Amniote egg –Have to return to land to reproduce –Dry, scaly skin (waterproof) –Claws on toes if toes are present Key Sentence: Modern reptiles have scales, clawed toes, and an ectothermic metabolism, and reptiles lack feathers or hair.

Class Reptilia Order Rhynchocephalia ex. tuatara Order Chelonia ex. Turtles (aquatic) & Tortoises (Terrestrial) Order Crocodilia ex. Crocodiles, Alligator, Gavial, Caimen Order Squamata ex. Lizards & Snakes

Venomous Snakes in Emanuel County Pit-Vipers (hemotoxin) Rattlesnakes –Eastern Diamondback *** –Timber or Cane-break –Pygmy (Carolina, Dusky, & pygmy) Cottonmouth moccasin Copperhead Elapid (neurotoxin) Coral (red & yellow touch)

Aves Characteristics –Endothermic (warm-blooded) –Feathers –Scales on legs –Claws on toes –Protect young –Beak or bill –Amniote egg –Oviparous –Sexual reproduciton –Internal fertilizatin Key Sentence: The key characteristics of modern birds include feathers, wings, lightweight skeleton, enodthermic metabolism, lungs with air sacs, and a beak.

Orders of Aves Anseriformes- swans, geese, & ducks Strigiformes- owls & nocturnal raptors Apodiformes- hummingbirds Psittaciformes- parrots, parakeets, budgerigars, cockatoos, & cockatiels Piciformes - woodpeckers, honeyguides, & toucans Falconiformes- raptors Passeriformes species most of the familiar North American birds Columbiformes- pigeons & doves

Orders of Aves Cont. Ciconiiformes- long-necked, long-legged Galliformes- turkeys, pheasants, chickens, grouse, and quails (fowl) Sphenisciformes- flightless marine birds (penguin) Struthioniformes- ostritch

Mammalia Characteristics –Endothermic –Hair / fur –4 types of teeth –Mammary tissue –Young nourished with milk –Protect young –Sexual reproduction –Internal fertilization Key Sentence: Mammals are endothermic, they have hair and specialized teeth, and females produce milk in mammary glands, to nourish their young.

Order Monotremata Echidna- spiny ant-eater Duck-billed platypus Both are oviparous but nourish their young with milk Found only in Austrailia

Order Marsupalia Pouched mammals Kangaroo Koala Wallaby Wambat Cuscus Flying phylanger Opossum

Orders of Placentals Carry the young inside the uterus for full gestation (from conception to birth) Rodentia- squirrels, marmots, chipmunks, gophers, muskrats, mice, rats, & porcupines Edentata-ant- eaters, armadillos, sloths Lagomorpha- rabbits, hares, pikas Insectivora- shrews, hedgehogs, moles Primates- prosimians (lemurs, tarsiers, lorises) & anthropoids (apes, monkeys, & humans)

Orders of Mammalia cont. Chiroptera- bats Carnivora- dogs, cats, raccoons, bears, hyenas, & otters Pinnidedia- sea lions, seals, walruses (or is it walri???) Artiodactyla- deer, elk, bison, moose, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and camels Perissodactyla- horses, zebra, rhinoceroses, tapirs

Orders of Mammalia cont. Cetacea- whales, dolphins, porpoises Sirenia- manatees & dugongs Proboscidea- elephants (African & Indian)

Gestation Oviparous- lay eggs that are incubated outside of the body ex. Aves Viviparous- hold young inside the body for the entire gestation and give live birth ex. Placental mammals Ovoviviparous- hold eggs inside female’s body, eggs hatch, live birth ex. Pit-vipers