Vertebrates
Vertebrates
Vertebrates (/vɜːrtɪbrəts/), from the Latin vertebratus (having joints), are a large group of chordates that includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. All vertebrates share the common characteristic of having a vertebral column, also known as the backbone or spine.
Etymology
The term "vertebrate" derives from the Latin word vertebratus (Aldrovandi 1643), which is translated into English as "having joints". This refers to the jointed spinal column that characterizes all animals in this group.
Classification
Vertebrates are classified into five major groups:
- Mammals: Warm-blooded vertebrates characterized by the possession of hair or fur, the secretion of milk by females for the nourishment of the young, and (typically) the bearing of live young.
- Birds: Warm-blooded vertebrates characterized by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, and a strong yet lightweight skeleton.
- Reptiles: Cold-blooded vertebrates that typically lay soft-shelled eggs and have skin covered in scales or bony plates.
- Amphibians: Cold-blooded vertebrates that spend some of their life in water and some on land, typically having an aquatic larval stage followed by a terrestrial adult stage.
- Fish: Aquatic vertebrates that have gills and fins and live in the water throughout their lives.
Related Terms
- Chordates: The phylum that includes vertebrates, along with several closely related invertebrates.
- Invertebrates: Animals that do not have a vertebral column.
- Vertebral column: The series of vertebrae that extends from the skull to the tail, enclosing the spinal cord and providing support for the thorax and abdomen; the spine.
- Spinal cord: The cylindrical bundle of nerve fibers and associated tissue that is enclosed in the spine and connects nearly all parts of the body to the brain, with which it forms the central nervous system.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Vertebrates
- Wikipedia's article - Vertebrates
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