Names of Vertebrates

The vertebrates include over 45,000 living species. Vertebrates range in size from tiny fish to elephants and whales (weighing up to 100 tonnes), the largest animals ever known. Vertebrates have evolved to live beneath, on the surface, and in the air. They eat plants, invertebrates, and sometimes each other. Some common vertebrate animal names are Whale, Lion, Bat, Owl, Elephant, Frog, etc.

What are Vertebrates?

Vertebrates are a chordate group that comprises birds, mammals, fishes, lampreys, amphibians, and reptiles. Vertebrates have a vertebral column, which replaces the notochord with numerous vertebrae that create a backbone. The vertebrae encircle and protect the nerve cord while also providing structural support to the animal. 

Vertebrates have an advanced head, a distinct brain encased by a skull, and paired sense organs. They also feature a highly efficient respiratory system, a muscular throat with slits and gills (the slits and gills are considerably modified in terrestrial vertebrates), a muscularized gut, and a chambered heart.

Classification of Vertebrates

On the basis of anatomical and physiological characteristics, they are classified into 7 classes:

• Mammalia (mammals)

• Aves (birds)

• Reptilia (reptiles)

• Amphibia (amphibians)

• Agnatha (jawless fish)

• Osteichthyes (bony fish)

• Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish)

Mammalia

Mammals, which include humans, are warm-blooded creatures. They have hair and backbones. Female mammals, unlike other animal types, produce milk to nourish their young. Almost all animals give birth to living offspring (except platypus and echidna, which lay eggs). Bats are flying mammals. 

Mammals

Aves 

Birds are vertebrates with feathers that have been adapted for flight and active metabolism. They also lay amniote eggs. The Aves class consists of warm-blooded animals with high body temperatures.

Birds

Reptilia 

Reptiles are four-footed tetrapods with a single external nasal entrance, a cloaca, and a tail. They lay eggs as well. Internal fertilization, amniotic development, and epidermal scales covering part or all of the body are all features of reptiles.

Reptiles

Amphibia 

Amphibians are small vertebrates that live in humid environments and require water to exist. This class of vertebrates includes frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. They have extremely thin skin through which they can all breathe and absorb water. Amphibians also have unique skin glands that make protein.

Amphibians

Agnatha

Jawless fish are primitive species that hunt for food or exist as parasites. Although they lack an upper and lower-hinged jaw, they can only suck or rasp with their circular mouth. Agnatha fish have bad eyesight but highly developed senses of touch and smell. They can be easily found in both freshwater and saltwater.

Osteichthyes

The biggest vertebrate class, the cold-blooded Osteichthyes or bony fish, have non-cartilaginous bones. To enhance balance, bony fish have an upper and lower jaw, several mucus glands on the skin, fins, five pairs of gills, and, in some species, a swim bladder. These fish, which can survive in both saltwater and freshwater, are normally taller than they are wide. They can lay an enormous number of eggs.

Chondrichthyes

The cartilaginous fishes have upper and lower jaws, scales, and paired fins, but their skeletons are formed of cartilage. Blood cells cannot be formed in the bone marrow in the absence of bone. Chondrichthyes fish are usually wider than they are tall. They do not have separate scales, but rather dermal denticles that give them their distinctive sandpaper skin. Gills range from five to seven in number, and for some species, constant movement is required to maintain water (and thus oxygen) passage.

Characteristics of Vertebrates

Some of the common characteristic features of Vertebrates are as follows

• They have a vertebral column.

• They have chambered hearts.

• They have a fully developed skeleton.

• They can breathe through the lungs or gills.

• They have well-developed brains, eyes, and mouths.

Summary

As we have discussed earlier, The bony vertebral column is referred to as a vertebrate. Brains, internal skeletons to which muscles can attach, two eyes, closed circulatory systems, and muscular mouths have all developed in all vertebrate classes. On the basis of anatomical and physiological characteristics, they are classified into 7 classes: Mammalia (mammals), Aves (birds), Reptilia (reptiles), Amphibia (amphibians), Agnatha (jawless fish), Osteichthyes (bony fish), and Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish). We also discussed some vertebrate animal names.