1. 7 Deadly Classes of Vertebrates
Hanna Hetrick

2. Agnatha
The oldest class of vertebrates
Includes lampreys and hagfish

3. Chondrichthyes Otherwise known as the cartilaginous fish
Have skeleton made of cartilage
Includes sharks, rays, and chimeras

4. Osteichthyes Otherwise known as the “Bony Fish”
Skeletons are made of bone
Most diverse group
Includes Ray-Finned Fish

5. Amphibia First vertebrates to live in land and water
Reproduce in water or on moist land
Include salamanders, frogs, caecilians

6. Reptilia
Able to retain moisture, meaning they can live exclusively on land
Produce eggs that do not develop in water
Include snakes, lizards, crocodiles, alligators, and turtles.

7. Aves Otherwise known as birds
Distinguished by the presence of feathers

8. Mammalia
Distinguished by animals that have hair, mammary glands, and three middle ear bones
Have live births

9. Timeline of Evolution 550 million years ago: Agnatha
300 million years ago: Reptilia
150 million years ago: Aves
490 million years ago: Osteichthyes
500 million years ago: Chondrichthyes
360 million years ago: Amphibia
200 million years ago: Mammalia

10. Chordata
The three classes of the Chordata Phylum

11. Basics
Chordata phylum is based on the animal at some point in their lifetime having:
Notochord which is a flexible skeletal support rod embedded in the animal’s back
Hollow nerve cord which runs along the animal’s back
Pharyngeal slits through the body wall in the pharynx. Allows water to pass through slits without going through digestive system
Tail extends beyond anal opening

12. Vertebrates
Larger, active animals that have a well developed brain encased in a hard skull. Like a camel

13. Tunicates Otherwise known as urochordates
Includes both sessile and free-swimming such as sea squirts

14. Lancelets Otherwise known as the cephalochordates
Small eel-like animals that are commonly found in the shallow tropical oceans