Vertebrate Station Lab
Answers
Station 1: Vertebrate Characteristics – Pgs. 767-770

What structure separates vertebrates from other
chordates? ____Backbone________

The backbone of vertebrates is made of individual
segments called ______Vertebrae____________.

Define endoskeleton: _Internal structure that provides
support, grows with individual and has living cells

Bird W name: Geospiza

Bird X name: Platyspiza

Bird Y name: Certhidea

Bird Z name: Camarhynchus
Station 1- Vertebrate characterisitcs
•Use the bird characteristics in the dichotomous key to organize each bird’s specific characteristics.
Bird W
Long slender beak
Bird X
Bird Y
Bird Z
Geospiza
Lower edge flat
Certhidea
Lower beak curved
Camarhync
hus
Lower edge Upper beak flat
Platyspiza
Station 1- vertebrate characterisitcs

Give one example of a vertebrate animal and the specific adaptation it has
for heterotrophic nutrition.

Animal: ANY

Type of heterotroph: Carnivore, Omnivore, or Herbivore

Specific adaptation it has for feeding: Mouth, Teeth, body structure According
to the cladogram: a. simplest animal? _Non vertebrate Chordate b. most
complex __Mammals

Which 2 animals are most closely related? ___Reptiles___________ &
_________Birds________
Station 2: Fishes – Pgs. 771-781

What feeding adaptation revolutionized vertebrate evolution?
_____Jaws_____________________

Which type of skeleton do fish have, (circle one)? endoskeleton

What structure do fish use for gas exchange? Gills

Explain what would happen to fish living in a lake if the water became
oxygen-poor water? _Die from lack of oxygen or adapt as the lung fish
with a tube to get oxygen and a lung like structure for gas exchage___

Use the diagrams on pg. 776 to answer the following questions.

Why is a fish’s circulatory system call a “closed circulatory system”?
They have a heart that pumps blood contained in vessels around the
body in a single loop
Station 2- Fish

What is the function of the ventricle? A thick walled, muscular chamber
that pumps the blood

Is a fish going to see you or “smell” you first? ___Smell

Explain: The cerebrum which is primarily responsible for smell in fish is
larger than the Optic lobe

Fish use the __Lateral Line________________ system to detect gentle
currents and vibrations in the water. Which body system is this system a
part of? ___Sensory System____

Which organ do fish use to adjust their buoyancy? Air Bladder

Which body system do fish use to fill their swim bladder with air?
Muscular and respiratory
Station 3: Amphibians – Pgs. 782-789

INFER: What does the word “amphibian” tell you about this group of vertebrates? _Amphibian
means double life – An amphibian would have 2 distinct stages during its life cycle_______

Use the diagram of the frog life cycle to answer questions 2, 3 & 4
 At
what stage in an amphibian’s life does it live in the
water? __egg, embryo, tadpole__
 At
what stage do amphibians live on land? ____Adult____
 Where
do female amphibians lay their eggs?
________Water________
Station 3- Amphibians

How do larval amphibians respire? (circle all that apply)
gills and skin

How do adult amphibians respire? (circle all that apply)
Lungs and skin

Which body system goes through a major change when a
tadpole becomes an adult frog? ___Skeletal and
respiratory___

In order for amphibians to respire through their skin they
keep their skin moist with mucus. Explain what might
happen to a frog if it was covered in an exoskeleton. _it
could not exchange gasses__________

Give an example of metamorphosis in amphibians. tadpole
to frog
Station 4: Reptiles – Pgs. 797-805

Reptiles were the first type of animal to Lay eggs on land.

Explain why each of the following adaptations is beneficial and
necessary for living on land.
 Lungs:
 Scaly
 Eggs
Exchange gasses in air
skin: Prevent desiccation (drying out)
with protective membrane – reduces water loss

Which part of an amniotic egg makes it beneficial for terrestrial living?
____Shell – prevent drying out______

What concern do oviparous animals have that viviparous animals do not
have? Protection of their eggs
Station 4- Reptiles

Which body system is different between oviparous and
viviparous animals? ___reproductive_________

Which type of reproduction produces an amniotic egg?
____Oviparous____________

Reptiles are ectothermic, which means the environment
controls the temperature of the body. How might you see
a reptile warming itself up? _____________in the
sun_________________

As a reptile grows its scaly skin does not grow with it.
What do reptiles have to do to grow? (Hint: think of
arthropods and how they grow) Molt or shed their skin
Station 5: Birds – Pgs. 806-813

Explain why birds are endothermic? They control their own body temp.

What characteristic do birds have that separates them from all other animals?
Feathers_

List 4 adaptations that enable birds to fly:
a. Feathers
b. Strong chest muscles
c. Highly efficient digestion, respiration and circulatory systems
d. Strong lightweight bones
Look at the pictures on the left side of pg. 808. Explain why these birds’ beaks are
different, even though they are closely related. They have different habitats and/or
different food supply.
Station 5- Birds

Explain why a one-way flow of air is an excellent
respiratory adaption. The lungs are constantly supplied
with oxygen rich air

What does a double-loop circulatory system ensure? The
muscles are always supplied with Oxygen rich blood

Are birds viviparous, ovoviviparous, or oviparous?
Oviparous
Create a chart or Venn Diagram to show
similarities and differences between birds
and mammals.
Station 6: Mammals – Pgs. 821-832

List 5 characteristics of all mammals.
a. Hair
b. Nourish young with milk
c. Breathe Air
d. 4 chambered heart
e. endothermic

What feature do female mammals have (pg. 821)? Mammary glands

Why are kangaroos considered marsupials? They give birth to live young very early
in the development__

Explain why the placenta is so important to many mammals. To nourish young in
the mother____

Give an example of a mammal that is oviparous. Platypus
Station 6- Mammals

Why are whales considered to be viviparous? They give
birth to live young that were nourished by the mother
inside her body

How would you identify that an animal is a bird and not a
mammal? Feathers, lay eggs (bird) vs. Hair, Live birth,
female mammary glands (mammal)

Explain why the structures shown are homologous to each
other. ___common ancestor _____

Give an example of two analogous structures on different
animals, and explain why they are analogous. Structures:
Bird wing and bee wing

Explain: structure used for same thing but not related (no
common ancestor).