This document classifies animals into two main groups: vertebrates and invertebrates. Vertebrates are further divided into five subclasses based on physical characteristics: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Each subclass shares defining traits such as how they breathe, whether they have scales or feathers, how they reproduce, and whether their body temperature changes with the environment or remains constant. Invertebrates either have a hard outer shell like insects and crabs or a softer body without a shell like jellyfish and worms, with examples given like spiders, shrimp, and snails.

1. CLASSIFYING

2. Animals are organisms that can be
made of many parts.
They’re not capable of making their
own food.

3. Animals must get energy from
eating plants or other animals.

4. Animals are classified
according to whether
or not they have a
backbone.

5. • Animals with backbones.
• Animals without backbones.

6. Vertebrates share other physical
characteristics.
• Examples: protective skin
covering, inside skeleton, muscles,
blood that circulates through
blood vessels, lungs or gills for
breathing.

7. Vertebrates are divided into five groups
based on physical characteristics.
1. Fish
2. Amphibians
3. Reptiles
4. Birds
5. Mammals

8. • Breathe with gills.
• Most have scales and fins.
• Most lay eggs.
• Have a body temperature that
changes with its environment.

9. • Spend the first part of their life breathing
with gills under water.
• As adults, they breathe with lungs on land.
• Smooth, moist skin.
• Most lay eggs.
• Have a body temperature that changes
with its environment.

10. • Breathe with lungs
• Have scales or plates
• Most lay eggs
• Have a body temperature that changes
with its environment.

11. • Breathe with lungs
• Lay eggs
• Have feathers, a beak, two
wings, and two feet.
• Have a constant body
temperature.

12. • Breathe with lungs
• Have fur or hair
• Can nurse their young with milk
• Usually give birth to live offspring
• Have a constant body temperature

13. Some have a hard
outer covering or
a shell.
• For example:
insects, crabs,
or clams.

14. Others don’t have a hard
outer covering or shell.
• For example: jellyfish or
worms.

15. Other examples of invertebrates are
spiders, shrimp, crayfish, sponges, sea
stars, or snails.

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The content information was gleaned from the 2005
South Carolina State Standards (support
documents).