This document provides information about vertebrates including their characteristics, systems, and classifications. It discusses the characteristics that define vertebrates such as having a vertebral column and circulatory system. It then describes the different classes of vertebrates in more detail, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. For each class, it highlights example organisms and adaptations.

1. VERTEBRATES
Passer domesticus. House sparrow. Banc d’imatges del Centre de Recursos de Biodiversitat animal, UB.

2. THE SUBPHYLUM OF VERTEBRATES
FINS AS
EXTREMITIES
LEGS WITH
FIVE FINGERS
Fishes (is not a taxon)

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF VERTEBRATES
• Vertebral column: it protects spinal cord.
• Circulatory system
• Skin or tegument:
Scales: fish, reptiles
Naked: amphibians
Feathers: birds
Hair: mammals
• Basic shape:

4. Brava: a whale that was found in Llançà.

5. CO2 Oxigen
The Three Vital functions:
1.NUTRITION
Food
Process
Nutrients Cells Oxigen
Energy
CO2 (as a waste)
Wastes
Lungs and gills

6. 2. INTERACTION and RESPONSE TO STIMULI
• Thanks to the coordination between the
nervous system and the muskuloeskeletal
system (muscular system+skeletal sysem).
• Sensory organs that capture stimuli.

7. 3. THE ROLE OF REPRODUCTION
• Sexual reproduction: the reproductive system.
• Types of fertilization:
– External fertilization: gametes released in the water.
– Internal fertilization: male gametes introduced in the
female’s body.
• Types of reproduction:
– Viviparous: development of the embryo inside the
body of the mother.
– Oviparous: development of the embryo inside an egg.
– Ovoviviparous: the egg is hatched inside the female’s
body.

8. Classification of vertebrates: fish (group)
Lopihus piscatorius. Angler. Banc d’imatges del Centre de Recursos de Biodiversitat Animal, UB.

9. Fish respiration: gills
Water
Exits
Through
opened
Operculum
(gill cover in Osteichthyes)
Filaments
Gill
Water
Enters
through
opened
mouth
Gill rakers
Gill arch
SEM Photograph of salmonid gill

10. Circulatory system of fish
Why are gills red?
gills
ventricleAtrium
organs
Heart
How is the circulatory system?
1. closed
2. simple blood circulation
3. incomplete

11. Adaptations to the aquatic life:
1. Skin of fish: with scales.
2. Hydrodynamic body shape

12. Adaptation to the aquatic life:
3.extremities of fish (fins)
An anal fin
Two pelvic fins
(forelimbs)
Two pectoral fins
(hindlimbs)
A caudal fin
A dorsal fin
Salmo trutta. Trout. (salmó)
C.R.B.A., UB.
Class Osteichtyes
Blue shark
Class Condrichthyes
PLACOID SCALES
DERMIC SCALES

13. Adaptations to aquatic life:
4.Gas bladder (inside the fish)
5.Lateral line

14. Fish classification: 1. Agnathans
Lampreys: male (left) and female (right). Sexual reproduction, external fertilization
The only parasitic vertebrates Lamprey: oval mouth (1cm) with small teeth and a sucker
Branchial
cleft
gills

15. Fish classification: 2. Osteichtyes
Main characteristics:
1. Skin covered with dermic scales.
2. Osseous skeleton
3. Operculum: a hard flap that covers the gills
4.Usually have a lateral line and a gas bladder
5.Reproduction through external fertilization
Examples: many fish we eat: salmon trout, sardines,
hakes, sturgeons, swordfish, angler...
Egg of a fish (24 hours)

16. Fish classification 3: Condrichtyes
Main characteristics:
1. Skin covered with placoid scales.
2. Cartilaginous skeleton.
3. Powerful musculature.
4. Branchial clefts: various openings on each side of the head
through which the gills come out.
5. They don’t have a gas bladder.
6. Reproduction through internal fertilization.
7. Some of them are great marine predators.
Examples: sharks, rays...
Branchial clefts (5-7)
Cartilaginous skeleton of a shark. Biodidac.
Lateral line of a shark

17. Salamandra salamandra. Banc d’imatges del Centre de Recursos de Biodiversitat Animal, UB.

18. Amphibians: Anurans and Urodelans
Alytes obstetricans. Toad. CRBA, UB.
Hyla meridionalis. Frog. CRBA, UB.
Triturus marmoratus .Newt. CRBA, UB. Salamandra salamandra. CRBA, UB.
Anurans
means
without
tail
Urodelans
means
with tail

19. Common parts of amphibians: head
Split projectable tonguetympani
Nostrils
(breathe
and smell)
Lower eyelid
(mobile)
Bufo bufo. Banc d’imatges del Centre de Recursos de Biodiversitat Animal, UB.

20. Common parts of amphibians: trunk
Calotriton arnoldi. Newt. Tritó del Montseny CRBA, UB.
Forelimbs or front extremities
with 4 fingers
Hindlimbs or hind extremities
with 5 fingers
Sometimes the hindlimbs have
Interdigital membranes: to swim!

21. Common characteristics of class Amphibians
• Amphibian skin:
– Naked (it means without scales, without feathers, without hair)
– With glands that secrete substances:
• To keep the skin moist, to avoid dehydration and to
make skin respiration (exchange of gases) possible .
• Sometimes also secrete toxins (toads, salamanders...)
• Amphibian respiration:
– Adult frogs: Lungs + skin.
– Aquatic larvae (tadpoles): gills.
• Amphibian blood circulation:
– Double but incomplete
heart with only one ventricle

22. Amphibian reproductive cycle (Frog)
Development of the embryo
is overand aquatic larvaes
(tadpoles) are born.
External fertilization:
Gametes released in
the water.
Tadpoles (aquatic larvae):
Tail,
Breath through gills,
no extremities,
Tadpoles
undergo
metamorphosis
Metamorphosis:
Extremities appear
tail disappears
Lungs are formed
Gills disappear
The adult frog can leave the water
Fertilized egg
fixed to other eggs
thanks to
mucous substances
Development of the embryo
(2-3 months in the water)

23. http://www.flickr.com/groups/bbcspri
ngwatch/pool/map?mode=group
Click on: Search the map
Search: BBCSpringwatch (official)
Search for:
Bufo bufo
Tadpoles
Lissotriton helveticus
Podarcis muralis
Lacerta bilineata
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier/

24. Disassociation from the aquatic habitat or
adaptation to the land environment 1/ Skin
Casa Batlló. Camp d’Aprenentatge de la ciutat de Barcelona. Consorci d’Educació de Barcelona.

25. Disassociation from the aquatic
habitat: 2/ eggs against dehydratation
Internal Fertilization. Egg shell+ different membranes
Amniotic egg (like birds, different from those of amphibians or fish)
Amnion
Corion
YolkWhite
Yolk
Air
cell
Egg
Shell
(coriaceus,
Porous)
Allantois
Embryo
Viteline layer

26. Reptyle morphology
TRUNK HEAD
Head: 2 nostrils, 2 eyes, 2 eyelids. Mouth with teeth (snakes) or a sort of beak.
Trunk: supports the extremities (5 fingers). Aquatic turtles: interdigital membranes
Tail: it extends past the excretory orifice or cloaca.

27. Tarentola mauritanica. Banc d’imatges del Centre de Recursos de Diversitat Animal, UB.

28. Reptiles’ classification: Saurians
Tarentola mauritanica. Dragon. Banc d’imatges del Centre de Recursos de Diversitat Animal, UB.

29. Reptiles’ classification: Ophidians
Vipera aspis. Viper. Escurçó.Banc d’imatges del Centre de Recursos de Diversitat Animal, UB.

30. Reptiles’ classification: Chelonians
Land turtle. From Biodidac.

31. Reptiles’ classification: Crocodilians
• Oviparous
• But some ovoviviparous (egg laid when hatching)
and viviparous. (snakes)
• Internal fertilization: specific mating rituals.
Reptile reproduction
Circulatory system of reptiles
Double: two atria and one ventricle (except crocodiles)
Incomplete: 1 ventricle so the blood is mixed

32. Buteo buteo. Eagle (aligot comú) C.R.B.A, UB Otus Scops. Owl. (xot) C.R.B.A,UB.

33. http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/
robin/index.aspx
Erithacus rubecula. Robin. Pit-roig. Banc d’imatges del Centre de Recursos de Diversitat Animal, UB.

34. Class Birds
General facts:
• Homeothermic animals: so they can live in very cold habitats.
• Amniotic eggs: the embryo developes inside a cavity full of
water. These eggs are also resistant to dehydratation.
• Amniotic Egg Gallus gallus. Chick of a cock. (pollet de gall negre)
• Skin covered with feathers. Birds evolve from feathered dinosaurs.

35. Turdus merula. Blackbird. Merla. Banc d’imatges del Centre de Recursos de Diversitat Animal, UB.

36. Bird morphology
Head:
Jaw covered by a beak.
The beak has blowholes
They don’t have teeth
Trunk:
The trunk supports
WINGS
LEGS: 4 fingers each
Forelimbs for flying: eagle
Also non-flying species: cock, peacock
Hindlimbs for walking: pigeons
Hindlimbs for swimming: seagulls
Hindlimbs for standing: flamingo
Tail:
Short tail.
It supports the rectrix feathers
Fingers covered with reptilian scales

37. Fingers covered with reptilian scales
Hindlimbs of a Seagull.

38. Bird flight adaptation
1. LITTLE WEIGHT:
Their bones are light
Semi empty bones
2. STRONG PECTORAL MUSCULATURE:
Muscles need a great amount of oxygen:
High efficiency Respiratory System
A heart that beats very fast
3. AERODYNAMIC
SHAPE:
Frontal view
Lateral view

39. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM OF BIRDS
Air sacks
LUNGS
The air sacks are
Connected to the lungs
And to the empty bones
MAIN AIR SACS FUNCTIONS:
1. Help decreasing weight
2. Improve lungs work
3. Help regulating temperature

40. Skin covered by Feathers
Rectix Feathers (on tail)
1. Set the direction of flight
2. Help Keeping balance
Remix Feathers (body)
Down Feathers (abdominal region)
1. Insulate against cold and water

41. Birds´ Nutrition and Reproduction:
• Birds diet:
– Hunters
– Fruit
– Scavengers
Birds digestive system:
-Crop
-Gizzard
Birds Reproductory System:
Males attract females: sing, dance
Internal fertilization: via cloaca
Oviparous, incubation period
Chics are nidifugous: hatch and go

42. Vertebrates circulatory systems:
. Number of atria
(they receive blood)
One: Simple circulation
Two: Double circulation:
2 atria enable a body circuit
And a pulmonary circuit.
Number of ventricles
(they pump blood)
One: Incomplete circulation
Two: Complete circulation
(no mixing of the blood of the
Different circuits)

43. Meles meles. Badger. Teixó. Banc d’imatges del Centre de Recursos de Diversitat Animal, UB.

44. Class Mammals:
They nurse their babies with milk.
Internal Fertilization. Viviparous (two exceptions)
Homeothermic: they can regulate their body temperature so they can live in cold places
Skin covered with hair (insulation against cold weather, protects the skin)

45. Mammals morphology
Head:
Sensory organs:
Moveable ears exclusive to mammals
Eyes, eyelids, mouth with teeth and lips
Trunk
Four extremities with 5 digits each.
Extremities adapted to the habitat
Excretory orifice or anus at the end
Tail:
Not always present
Wales use it for swimming
Dogs use it for equilibrium
Monkeys use it for hanging

46. Circulatory system of Mammals

47. Classification of Mammals
• 1. Marsupials (like Koala bears and Kangaroos)
– Pouch: protective sac where they carry on development.
– Really small and without hair when they are born
• 2. Monotremes
– Oviparous mammals: they lay amniotic eggs.
– Only in Australia: echidnas and platypus
• 3.Placental mammals
– Placenta helps the embryo to develope inside the
females´ body. (provides nutrients, oxigen, retains
waste products...)
– They can live most places on earth: pole, desert...

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