Charting The Animal Kingdom: Vertebrates
A vertebrate is an animal with a backbone and braincase. There are seven living classes of vertebrates, five of which are
listed in the chart below.
Research each class. Fill in the chart with some of the characteristics and animals of each class. Use encyclopedias and
other reference books to help you. Some boxes have been filled in for you.
class
cold-blooded or
warm-blooded
type of
body covering
method of
reproduction

fish



amphibians
reptiles
birds
mammals
habitat

examples
water
most breathe
with lungs
some have gills
some have lungs
and gills
cold-blooded

feathers
cats
dogs
cattle
goats
hogs
anteaters
apes
people