Vertebrates
What trait do scientists use to divide all animals into two main groups?
Animals can be classified using various characteristics. However, the main characteristic
used is the identification of a backbone.
Animals are spilt into two major groups:
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Vertebrate: animals that have backbones.
Invertebrate: animals that do not have backbones.
There are five groups of vertebrates:
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Amphibians
Birds
Fish
Mammals
Reptiles
Vertebrates
Group Characteristics –
Amphibians:
 Have moist skin
 Lay jelly coated eggs in water
 Lives on land and water
 Amphibians
 Cold blooded
 Lives part of their life on land and part in water
Birds
 Have feathers and hollow bones
 Lay hard shelled eggs
 Warm blooded
 Birds
 Warm blooded
 Have feathers
 Lay hard-shelled eggs
Fish
 Have wet scales
 Lays eggs in water
 Lives in water
 Cold blooded
 Covered with scales
 Breathes through gills
Mammals
 Have hair and produce milk
 Give birth to live offspring (no eggs)
 Warm blooded
 Has hair or fur
Reptiles
 Have dry scales
 Lay leathery shelled eggs
 Cold blooded
 Have lungs and dry skin