1. Vertebrate Trading Cards
By Michelle Scott
Carter Period 5

2. Hagfish Class: Agnatha Scientific Name: Myxine glutinosa
Nickname: Hagfish or “slime eels,” though they are not eels at all
Favorite Food: dead or dying animals that have sunk to the bottom of the ocean
Special Characteristic:
no true jaws or teeth
Defensive technique:
secrete a mucous-like slime that helps them escape an enemy that wraps itself around the fish
Interesting Facts:
Only existing jawless fish
Digestive system has no stomach
Body does not have scales

3. Smooth Hammerhead Shark
Class: Chondricthyes
Scientific Name:
Sphyrna Zygaena
Nickname: Smooth Hammerhead Shark
Greatest Achievement:
out-swimming a Great White in the Annual Shark-a-thon
Biggest Fear: Any Great White or Whale shark; the hammerhead will do it’s best to avoid any animals bigger than it
Defensive technique: mucous glands coating body make skin rough and hard to break through, making it easy to escape predators
Interesting Facts:
Can grow to be up to 12 to 13 feet long
Skeleton is cartilaginous
Teeth are triangular shaped and serrated

4. Flathead Catfish Class: Osteichthyes Scientific Name:
Pylodictis Olivaris
Nickname: Flathead Catfish
Popularity: 95% of all fish; 50% of all vertebrates
- There are over 20,000 different species of Osteichthyes
Special Characteristic: has a long, thin body and thick scales to allow quick body movement and ability to swim faster than most fish
Preferred Living Conditions: large streams/rivers, lakes, back waters; near vegetation
Interesting facts:
Mucous glands coat body to make skin slick and slippery; causes for an easy escape from enemies
Can see in color
Paired fins all over body

5. Blue Poison Dart Frog Interesting Facts: Amphibians lay eggs in water
Can breathe both in water and on land
Have both lungs and gills
Class: Amphibia
Scientific Name:
Dendrobates azureus
Nickname: Blue Poison Dart Frog
Special Characteristic: some amphibians are metamorphose, meaning that they can change their outward appearance or nature
Ideal Date: includes a trip to a pond (preferably fresh water) and a night away from the heat and dryness of their surroundings
Defensive Technique: poison dart frogs are able to release poison from their skin that is distasteful and potentially lethal to would-be predators and attackers

6. Striped Mud Turtle Class: Reptilia Scientific Name:
Kinosternon subroubrum
Nickname: Striped Mud Turtle
Helpful Body Feature: has watertight skin to exchange gasses through skin, while still being flexible enough to move easily through water
Special Characteristic: amphibians inhabit every continent
Evolutionary Advantage: turtles have been on the earth for more than 200 million years, and have evolved faster than mammals, birds, crocodiles, snakes, and even lizards
Interesting Facts:
The body of every amphibian is coated in either scales or hard shells
The striped mud turtle is able to survive in very diverse habitats (desert, rainforest, etc.

7. Blue-Naped Parrot Class: Aves Scientific Name: Interesting Facts:
Tanygnthus lucionensis
Nickname: Blue-naped Parrot
Unique Characteristics:
Ablity to fly
Wings
Light-weight skeleton
Body coated in feathers
Help regulate body temp.
Provide camouflage
Play crucial role in flight
Have a beak, but no teeth
Special Characteristic:
Birds that are in good health are able to produce brighter colored and sturdier feathers all over their bodies
Interesting Facts:
Communicate through songs/calls
Can live in a wide range of environments including tall trees, cliff tops; dry to wet climates

8. African Elephant Class: Mamalia Scientific Name: Loxodonta Africana
Nickname: African Elephant
Distinguishing Fact: African elephant ears average over three times the size of Asian elephant ears
Ears help regulate body temperature
When a threat is introduced, ears expand to intimidate attacker
Special Characteristic: Mammals have hair all over their bodies to help regulate body temperature
Interesting Facts:
Specialized teeth to help eat different types of food
Mammals are only animals to produce milk