Vertebrates and Invertebrates Science Test Study Guide
Different types of symmetry
Bilateral symmetry- Body parts that are mirror images of each other
Radial symmetry- Body parts arranged in a circle around a central point
Asymmetry symmetry- Irregular shape
Invertebrates
Worms (Flatworms, Annelids, and Roundworms), Cnidarians, Porifera, Echinoderms,
Arthropods (Insects, Arachnids, and Crustaceans), and (Bivalves, Cephalopods, and
Gastropods).
General facts about invertebrates (Subphylum group)
-animals that do not have a backbone.
-97% of the all animals are invertebrates.
Worms
-ex: Flat, round, and segmented worms
-take in oxygen through their skin
-bilateral
-are colonial or solitary depending on the type of worm
Flat worms
-ex: Tapeworms
-very simple flat in structure
Segmented worms
-ex: Earthworms
-not complicated worm group
-has segments
-has organ systems
Round worms
-simple but more complex then flat worms
Cnidarians
2 types: Polyp (sponges or sea anemone) depending on the type of polyp have
bilateral, radial, or asymmetry symmetry and medusa have bilateral symmetry
(Jellyfish)
-bilateral
-live only in water
-have tentacles that are adapted to catch prey and to protect the animal from predators
-solitary or colonial depending on the types of cnidarians
-polyps are benthic and sessile while medusas are pelagic
Porifera
-sponges
-no body symmetry
-no organs
-colonial or solitary depending on the type of Porifera
-sessile and benthic
Echinoderms
-sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, or brittle stars
-radial symmetry
-free-swimming larva to sedentary/inactive adults
-breathe through skin gills as adults
-capable of extensive regeneration
-have a nervous system but no head or brain in adults
-no circulatory, respiratory, or excretory systems
-have a network of water-filled canals called the water vascular system to help move
and feed
-tube feet on the underside of arms help in moving around
-have internal skeletons
-have many sharp spikes
-known as spiny-skinned animals
-colonial or solitary depending on the type of echinoderm
-are sessile and benthic
Arthropods
-3 types; Insects, crustaceans, arachnids
-have an exoskeleton, a hard outer covering that protects the animal's soft body and
keeps it from drying out
-molt, the process of shedding the exoskeleton
-have bilateral symmetry
-colonial or solitary depending on the type of arthropod
Insects
-ex: Butterflies, ladybugs, mosquitoes, dragonflies, etc…
-largest group of arthropods
-have 3 body segments
-have six legs
-1 pair of antennae
Crustaceans
-ex: lobster, etc…
-live in water.
-2 pair of antennae
-3 or more pair of legs
-benthic
Arachnids
-Ex: Spiders, etc…
-have eight legs
-have two body segments
-Have no antennae
Mollusks
-3 types; Gastropods, bivalves, and cephalopods
-have a mantle that protects the organs and produces its shell
-have a muscular foot
-soft bodies
-have radula which is a tiny row of flexible teeth inside their mouth
-open circulatory system
-have bilateral symmetry
-colonial or solitary depending on the type of mollusk
Gastropods
-Ex: Snails, slugs, etc…
-have a radula to shred food
-may have gills or lungs
Bivalves
-Ex: Oysters, clams, etc…
-takes in oxygen through its gills
-have 2 matching shells
-sessile and may be benthic
Cephalopods
-Ex: Squid, octopus, etc…
-have internal plate
-have a well-developed head and foot
-closed circulatory system
How do specific invertebrates reproduce?
Worms-Sexual Reproduction
Cnidarians- Both Asexually and Sexually
Porifera- Both Asexually and Sexually
Echinoderms- Both Asexually and Sexually
Arthropods- Both Asexually and Sexually
Mollusks- Sexual Reproduction
How do specific invertebrates capture prey?
Worms-Hooks, suckers, etc…
Cnidarians-Polyp: Filter-feed/Medusa: Tentacles
Porifera-Filter-feed
Echinoderms-Filter-feed
Arthropods- Depends on type of arthropod. Ex: Spiders (Arachnid) use their webbing
to capture prey.
Mollusk- Depends on type of mollusk. Ex: Clams (Bivalves) filter-feed.
Complete vs. Incomplete Metamorphosis
Complete Metamorphosis
-Insects with a complete metamorphosis have a four-stage life cycle. (Egg, larva, pupa,
and adult.)
-There is more of a significant change.
Incomplete Metamorphosis
-Insects with an incomplete metamorphosis have a three-stage life cycle. (Egg, nymph,
and adult.)
-The change is not that significant
Vertebrates
-animals that do have a backbone
-backbone (vertebrate) surrounds and protects a nerve cord
-skull and vertebrate are made of either bone or cartilage
Amphibians
-ex: frogs, etc…
-amphibian means “double life” because they live in water and on land
-eggs do not have a shell or membrane to prevent water loss so they are laid in water
-ectodermic
-skin is smooth and slimy
-they don’t drink water, they absorb it through their skin
-breath by taking air into their lungs and they absorb it through their skin
-their skin is so thin and moist they must live in water or in damp habitats
-their skin is brightly colored to warn predators away. This is called warning
coloration.
-3 chambered heart
Reptiles
-ex: turtles, crocodiles, etc…
-some reptiles live in water but they use lungs to breathe air
-thick dry skin, that is water tight and prevents losing water by evaporation
-ectodermic
-amniotic egg-surrounded by a shell that protects an developing embryo (most
important adaptation)
-internal fertilization
-3 chamber heart
Birds
-ex: Penguins, ducks, owls, etc…
-beaks instead of teeth or jaws
-feathers
-wings
-need a lot of energy to be able to fly
-eat large amounts of food
-air sacs- special sacs attached to the lungs that increases the amount of oxygen that birds can take in
-lighter skeletons- hollow bones
-4 chamber heart
-endothermic
Fish
-ex: Swordfish, salmon, catfish, etc…
-fins- help the fish move steer, stop, and balance
-scales- protect the body
-well developed sense of vision, hearing, taste, and smell
-lateral line system- row of sense organs
-breathe with gills
-external and internal fertilization
3 types of fish
-jawless fish- eel like fish, smooth, slimy, no jaw
-cartilaginous fishes- have cartilage, no bones, and strong jaws
-bony fishes- bony skeleton can float in place without swimming because they have a
swim bladder
-swim bladder- balloon like organ filled with oxygen and other gases that give the fish
buoyancy
Mammals
-ex: Humans, bears, monkeys, tigers, etc…
-mammary glands- secrete nutritious milk
-endothermic
-hair somewhere on their bodies
-specialized teeth
-4 chamber heart
-large brains
-Require oxygen to burn or break down the food they eat
-Diaphragm- muscle at the bottom of the rib cage that moves and helps with inhaling
and exhaling
Different types of mammals
Monotremes- mammals that lay eggs
Marsupials- mammals with pouches
Placental-embryos stay in an organ called an uterus in the mother. The placenta in
the uterus supplies food and oxygen to the embryo.
How do specific invertebrates reproduce? Fertilization(Eggs)
Amphibians- Sexual Reproduction/External Fertilization
Reptiles- Sexual Reproduction/Internal Fertilization
Birds- Sexual Production/Internal Fertilization
Fish-Sexual Production/External Fertilization
Mammal-Sexual Production/Internal Fertilization
How do specific invertebrates capture prey?
Amphibians- Depends on the type of the amphibian. Ex: Frogs use their tongue to
catch prey such as flies.
Reptiles- Use their sense of smell and touch to catch prey.
Birds- Use their talons and beaks to catch food and eat food.
Fish- Use their 5 senses to locate and eat food.
Mammal- Depends on the type of mammal. Herbivores use their teeth to grind plants
and eat them. Carnivores use their sharp teeth to tear apart their meat/prey. Omnivores
grind and tear their food with their special set of teeth.
Adaptations of different vertebrates to their environments
Amphibians-Hibernation (staying inactive during winter) in colder climates and
estivation (staying inactive during summer) in hotter climates.
Reptiles- A thick, dry, waterproof skin covered with scales reduces water loss and
helps prevent injury.
Birds- A hollow skeleton and feathers which helps the bird fly.
Fish- The lateral line system helps the fish use its sensory senses.
Mammal- Well-developed lungs, a complex nervous system, and a large brain helps
the mammal survive.
Ectodermic vs. Endothermic
-Endothermic animals (warm-blooded animals) are animals that maintained a constant
body temperature
-Ectodermic animals (cold-blooded animals) are animals that body temperature
changes with their environment
Chordates and Notochords
-Chordates=Vertebrates
-Notochord- is a flexible rod that extends along the length of the developing organism.