Vertebrates
vs.
Invertebrates
Take a close look at the outer
covering of these animals.
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How would you classify them?
Discuss this with your team.
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Scientists classify animals by the
traits they share.
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trait
trait: a quality, or feature passed
onto an animal from its parents.
- Things that scientists study are classified by traits.
As a team, compare and contrast the
traits of birds and crocodiles using a
Venn Diagram.
What traits did you notice?
Name: ______________________________________
Date: __________________________________
Venn-Diagram
birds
Both
crocodile
Scientists classify all
animals
into two main groups,
vertebrates and
invertebrates.
Vertebrates
 vertebrates: animals with backbones.
 Let’s look at the pictures of the bird and the crocodile.
They are both vertebrates, animals with a backbone.
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Here’s a closer look at that
crocodile!
Vertebrate/ backbone
Now let’s take a closer look
at the bird.
backbone
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How would you like to
touch a real vertebrate?
 Did you know humans have this trait?
 Bend your head forward.
 Feel the upper part of your backbone near your
neck.
 Can you feel it?
 What do you think it is?
 Let’s take a quick look inside
This is what the backbone
of a human looks like.
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Animals can also be
classified as invertebrate
 invertebrate: an animal without a backbone.
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Jellyfish are invertebrates
Earthworms are invertebrates
Do you think there are more
vertebrates or invertebrates on
Earth?
Animals on Earth
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Let’s review.
Classify these animals as
vertebrate or invertebrate.
Your brain is the command
center of your body.
The backbone protects your
spinal cord which is how your
brain gets its messages.
Observe the picture of the squirrel.
Take a close look at its backbone.
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Why does the the squirrel have so many little
bones? Think about how a squirrel moves,
observe the vertebrate’s backbone.
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Turn to your partner,
explain the difference
between
a vertebrate
&
an invertebrate
Turn to your partner,
discuss which model of the
backbone is a better
representation of how the
backbone works, and why.