vertebrates
Animals with backbones
Vertebrates are animals with backbones—the spinal column that distinguishes them from invertebrates like insects and jellyfish.
The group includes fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Vertebrates make up only about 3% of all animal species, yet they dominate most ecosystems.
Hair-bearing, milk-producing animals
- birdsEgg-laying flying vertebrates
- fishGilled aquatic vertebrate
- reptilesCold-blooded scaly vertebrates
- amphibiansVertebrates with aquatic larvae
tetrapods · chordates · species · classification · phylogeny · cladistics · fauna · biodiversity
Vertebral column, or courage
- spineColumn of vertebrae
- vertebraeInterlocking bones of spine
- skullHead's bone casing
- ribcageBony chest enclosure
pelvis · limbs · cartilage · bone · marrow · axial · appendicular · cranium
Internally temperature-regulated
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- endothermicAbsorbing thermal energy
- ectothermicTemperature set by surroundings
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
respiration · circulation · nervous system · sensory organs · locomotion · homeostasis · digestion · reproduction
Preserved ancient organism traces
- paleontologyStudy of ancient organisms
- CambrianEarliest Paleozoic period
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
extinction · common ancestor · mass extinction · radiation · Devonian · natural selection · homology · ancestral
Relating to the sea
- terrestrialRelating to land
- aerialElevated, or signal-catcher
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
arboreal · burrowing · migratory · nocturnal · diurnal · carnivores · herbivores · omnivores
mammals
Hair-bearing, milk-producing animals
- birdsEgg-laying flying vertebrates
- fishGilled aquatic vertebrate
- reptilesCold-blooded scaly vertebrates
amphibians · tetrapods · chordates · species · classification · phylogeny · cladistics · fauna · biodiversity · zoology
backbone
Vertebral column, or courage
ribcage · pelvis · limbs · cartilage · bone · marrow · axial · appendicular · cranium · jaw
warm-blooded
Internally temperature-regulated
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- endothermicAbsorbing thermal energy
- ectothermicTemperature set by surroundings
metabolism · respiration · circulation · nervous system · sensory organs · locomotion · homeostasis · digestion · reproduction · bilateral symmetry
fossils
Preserved ancient organism traces
- paleontologyStudy of ancient organisms
- CambrianEarliest Paleozoic period
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
speciation · extinction · common ancestor · mass extinction · radiation · Devonian · natural selection · homology · ancestral · living fossils
marine
Relating to the sea
- terrestrialRelating to land
- aerialElevated, or signal-catcher
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
freshwater · arboreal · burrowing · migratory · nocturnal · diurnal · carnivores · herbivores · omnivores · apex predators
- zoologymammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects
- biologycells, DNA, cell, biology, gene
- life formsorganisms, organism, lifeforms, animal, creatures
- living thingsplants, animals, animal, creature, birds
- organismsplants, animals, human, dog, fungi
- biodiversityspecies diversity, endemism, genetic diversity, biodiversity hotspots, biota
vertebratesinvertebrates
Animals without vertebral columns
jellyfish · insects · worms · mollusks · crustaceans
vertebratesinvertebrates
Animals without vertebral columns