2. Classification of Animals
Vertebrates Invertebrates
Animals
Click on vertebrates or
invertebrates to learn
more about each!!
Click below after you
have read about
vertebrates and
invertebrates
3. Vertebrates
•Animals that are vertebrates
are simply animals with a
backbone.
•Vertebrates have an
endoskeleton
–It offers support and protects
the soft parts of the animal.
4. Vertebrates
Vertebrates can either be ectotherms or endotherms.
Ectotherms (cold-blooded)
•Body temperature changes to match their
surroundings.
•Endotherms (warm-blooded)
•Regulate their body temperature so that it
remains constant
5. Vertebrates
•Vertebrate animals fall into the
chordate phylum.
•The chordate phylum is divided into
classes.
–fish
–amphibians
–reptiles
–birds
–mammals
6. Vertebrates
This chart shows the vertebrates organized into classes.
Vertebrates
Fish
Mammals
Birds
Amphibians Reptiles
Click on a box to learn more about that class of vertebrates!
When you are done, click the link at the bottom left of the screen to learn about invertebrates!
Click here to go
to Invertebrates
7. • Fish are cold-blooded animals.
– This means that their blood
temperature changes with the
temperature of the surrounding water.
• Most fish live close to the shore in
water that is less than 600 feet
deep.
– In the ocean, the deeper the water,
the dimmer the light.
– Many fish who live at 2000 feet or
deeper glow in the dark.
Fish
8. • All fish have gills. These gills absorb
oxygen from the water and pass it along
to the bloodstream.
• A fishes scales are called armor because
they protect it. A slimy substance
moistens the scales. This protects the
fish from infection and helps the fish slip
through the water faster.
Fish
9. • Fish stay afloat because they have swim
bladders. By changing the amount of air in its
bladder, a fish never rises or sinks, but stays
balanced.
Fish
10. Fish
•Fins move the fish forward, steer it, and help the
fish to keep its balance.
•The pectoral and pelvic fins are used for balance, steering,
and braking.
•The dorsal fin keeps the fish from rolling over and works
along with the anal fin.
•The tail (caudal fin) provides power, thrushing the fish
forward.
11. Fish
Fish are actually divided into 3 different classes.
Click the boxes to learn about these 3 types.
You must click the boxes in order from top to bottom.
Cartilaginous Fish
Bony Fish
Jawless Fish
12. Bony Fish
• Bony fish make up about 95% of all
fish.
• Skeletons are made up of bone.
• Their scaly skin is covered with a
slimy mucous.
• Their mouth is generally at the
front of the body.
• They have a tail fin.
13. Cartilaginous Fish
• Cartilaginous fish include the
sharks, skates and rays.
• Although these look different,
they have many features in
common.
• None of them have any true bone
- their skeleton is made of
cartilage.
• They have strong jaws
Chilean Skate
Ray
Great White Shark
14. Cartilaginous Fish
Continued…
• Their mouth is on the underside of their
body.
• Their eyes are on the top of their body.
• They cannot see food as it enters their
mouth.
• Some sharks solve this problem by touching
their food briefly with their nose first.
– Some also use a powerful electrosensory system.
15. Jawless Fish
• This is a primitive eel-like fish which doesn't
have a true jaw, but a sucker-like mouth (like
suction cups!) and rasping teeth.
• There are two main types:
– Lampreys
• Lampreys are found in freshwater lakes and streams as
well as in salt water.
– Hagfish
• Hagfish, or blind eels, are found only in salt water and
feed mainly on dead fish.
lamprey
16. Click on the correct choice.
The majority of fish fall into which class?
A. Bony Fish
A. Cartilaginous Fish
A. Jawless Fish
Let’s Review Fish!!!
17. You chose B. Cartilaginous Fish.
That is incorrect.
Think about the majority of fish you have seen
in your life…what is hard inside their body?
18. You chose C. Jawless Fish.
That is incorrect.
Think about the majority of fish you have seen
in your life…what is hard inside their body?
19. Yes. The correct choice is A Bony Fish.
About 95% of all fish are considered bony fish!
20. Click on the correct choice.
Which fin gives the fish balance,
steering, and braking?
A. Dorsal Fin
A. Caudal Fin (tail)
A. Pectoral and Pelvic Fins
Let’s Review Fish!!!
21. You chose B. Caudal Fin (tail).
That is incorrect.
The caudal fin (tail) actually gives the fish the
power to move forward.
22. You chose A. Dorsal Fin.
That is incorrect.
The dorsal fin keeps the fish from rolling over.
23. Yes. The correct choice is
C. Pectoral and Pelvic Fin.
These allow the fish to balance, steer, and brake.
24. • These animals have
smooth skin
• Most spend at least part
of their life in water.
• Amphibians are cold-
blooded (hibernate in
winter).
• They usually have three
life stages: egg, larva,
adult (metamorphosis).
• Includes: Frogs, Toads,
Salamanders, and Newts.
Amphibians
Salamander
newts
toad
25. • These animals have dry, scaly
skin.
• They are cold-blooded
(hibernate in winter).
• Some live in the water, but most
are adapted to life on land.
• Most reptiles lay soft-shelled
eggs, but some bear live young.
• Includes: Lizards, Snakes,
Turtles, and Crocodiles.
Fast Fact!
Did you know that snakes smell with their tongue!
Reptiles
Iguana
Turtle
Crocodile
26. • Birds are warm-
blooded.
• They have hollow
bones and feathers.
• Most can fly at least
short distances.
• Birds are born from
hard-shelled eggs.
• Includes: Raptors,
Gulls, Songbirds, and
Fowl.
Birds
Raptor
Gull
Fowl
27. Mammals
• These animals usually have
hair/fur.
• They give birth to live young
and feed their young with
milk.
• Have the most complex brains
and nervous systems of any
animal on earth.
• Mammals are warm-blooded.
• Includes: Rodents, Hoofed
animals, Marsupials, Bats,
Rabbits, Weasels, Raccoons,
Bears, Dogs, and Cats.
Rodent
Bat
Dog
29. Vertebrate Review
You see a greenish-brownish colored animal
walking in your yard. You get brave, and
decide to touch it. It’s skin is dry and
scaly. What kind of animal is it most
likely?
A. Amphibian
B. Mammal
C. Reptile
30. You chose A. Amphibian.
That is incorrect.
Amphibians have smooth skin.
31. You chose B. Mammal.
That is incorrect.
A mammal’s skin would most likely be furry.
32. Yes. The correct choice is
C. reptile
Reptiles have dry, scaly skin.
33. • Invertebrates are animals without a
backbone.
• 97% of all animals are invertebrates!
• They are divided into different groups or
phyla (plural of phylums).
• Scientists look at something called
symmetry to help classify invertebrates.
Invertebrates
34. Invertebrates
Radial symmetry: body parts are arranged around
in a circle around a central point (starfish).
Bilateral symmetry: have two sides that will
match if you draw a line down the center of their
body (lobster).
Asymetric: these animals have no definite shape
at all (sponges).
35. Invertebrates
Invertebrates
Cnidarian Sponges Arthropods Mollusks
Echinoderms Annelids Flatworms
Click on a box to learn more about that class of invertebrates!
When you are done, click the man at the bottom left of the screen to move on!
Click below when you
are done learning about
invertebrates:
36. Cnidarians
• Have radial symmetry
• Sometimes they have stinging
tentacles around their mouths that
they use to catch food.
Polyp
Jellyfish
39. Arthropods
• Have jointed body parts
• Bilateral symmetry
• Segmented bodies
• Lobster, house fly,
beetle, butterflies,
spiders
Butterfly
Beetle
Tarantula
House Fly
Lobster
Crustaceans
Arachnids
Insects
40. Arthropods
Crustaceans
• Crustaceans live mostly in the ocean or other waters.
• Most commonly known crustaceans are the crab and
lobster.
• Crustaceans have a hard, external shell which protects
their body.
• Crustaceans have a head and abdomen. The head has
antennae which are part of their sensory system. The
abdomen includes the heart, digestive system and
reproductive system.
• The abdomen also has appendages, such as legs, for
crawling and swimming. Many crustaceans also have
claws that help with crawling and eating.
Crustaceans
Arachnids
Insects
41. • Arachnids are a type of
arthropod. You know many of them
as spiders.
• Like other arthropods, the
arachnids have a hard exoskeleton
and jointed appendages for
walking.
• Unlike other arthropods,
arachnids do not have antennae.
• Common arachnids are the spider,
scorpions, ticks and mites.
Crustaceans
Arachnids
Insects
Arthropods
Arachnids
42. • Insects are the largest group of
arthropods. There are over 800,000
different types of insects.
• The insect's head has a pair of
antennae, and a pair of compound
eyes.
• Compound eyes are different from
human eyes which have a single lens
for each eye. Compound eyes have
many lenses for each eye. For
example, the fly has about 4,000
lenses in a single eye. This provides
them with very good eyesight.
Crustaceans
Arachnids
Insects
Arthropods
Insects
43. • Long, flat bodies
• Bilateral symmetry
• Most are parasites that invade
other creatures and live off of
them.
• Planaria, tapeworms, liver flukes
Flatworms
Planaria
Liver Flukes
Tapeworm
45. Mollusks
• Soft bodies
• Protective shell
• Land mollusks include snails and slugs
and have lungs.
• Water mollusks include oysters,
mussels, clams, squids, and octopuses
which use gills to breathe.
Octopus
Snail
Oyster
46. Echinoderms
• Spiny skin
• Radial symmetry
• Thousands of tube-like feet
• Starfish, sea urchin, sand dollar, and
sea cucumber.
Sand Dollar
Sea Urchin
Starfish
Sea Cucumber
47. Let’s Review
What type of symmetry does the
following invertebrate have?
a) Radial
b) Bilateral
c) Asymmetric
48. You chose c. asymmetric.
That is incorrect.
Think about the left and right sides of a
butterfly…
49. You chose a. radial.
That is incorrect.
Are all their body parts arranged around a
circle?
50. Yes. The correct choice is
B. bilateral
Both sides of the butterfly are idential.
