Key Vocabulary Words
Vertebrates
WORD
DEFINTION
chordate
an animal that has a
notochord, a nerve cord, gill
slits, and a postanal tail present
during development
firm but flexible structure that
extends along the upper part
of a chordate
notochord
postanal tail
nerve cord
gill slits
endoskeleton
muscular structure at the end
of a developing chordate
tube-like structure above the
notochord that in most
chordates develops into the
brain and spinal cord
in developing chordates, the
paired-opening found in the
area between the mouth and
digestive tube
supportive framework of boneand/or-cartilage that provides
an internal place for muscle
attachment
ESSENTIAL
CHARACTERISTICS
-characteristics are present at
some stage of development
-all chordates have an internal
notochord
-some mammals, chordates
develop backbones that
replace the notochords
-notochord extends to the
postanal tail
-most chordates develop
central nervous system
-front end of nerve cord
enlarges to form the brain and
remainder of spinal cord
-chordates have several pairs
of gill slits
-fish gill slits develop into
internal gills
-human-only present during
embryonic development
-internal framework
-protects a vertebrates internal
organs
EXAMPLES
amphibians
fish, birds
reptiles
mammals
sea squirts
lancelets
chordates
vertebrates
chordates
humans
birds, fish
reptiles
amphibians
mammals
cartilage
vertebrae
ectotherm
endotherm
fin
tough, flexible tissue that joins
vertebrae and makes up all or
part of the vertebrate's
endoskeleton
backbones that are joined by
flexible cartilage and protect a
vertebrate's spinal cord
vertebrate animal whose
internal temperature changes
when the temperature of the
environment changes
-soft disks of cartilage cushion
vertebrae
-cold - blooded animals
fish
amphibians
reptiles
vertebrate animal with a
constant internal temperature
-warm -blooded animals
birds
mammals
fan-like structure used by fish for
steering, balancing, and
movement
-paired fins on the sides allow
fish to move right or left
-top and bottom fins are for
stability
-most scales are made of bone
-variety of shapes - this classifies
most fish
-inactivity during cold weather
scales
thin, hard plates that cover a
fish's skin and protects its body
hibernation
cyclic response of inactivity
and slowed metabolism that
occurs during periods of cold
temperatures and limited food
supplies
inactivity in hot, dry months
during which amphibians hide
in cooler ground
egg covered with a leathery
shell that provides a complete
environment for the embryo's
development
estivation
amniotic egg
-alternate with cartilage
-protects the nerve cord
chordates
humans
dorsal fin
tail fin
placoid scales
ganoid scales
cycloid scales
mammals
amphibians
-often hide in ground during dry
months
-enables reptiles to reproduce
on land
-contain membranes that
cushion and protect embryo
amphibians
reptiles
contour feather
down feather
preening
mammal
mammary gland
omnivore
carnivore
herbivore
monotreme
marsupial
strong, light-weight feathers
that give birds their coloring
and shape and are used for
flight
soft, fluffy feathers that provide
an insulating layer next to the
skin of adult birds and covers
the bodies of young birds
process in which a bird rubs oil
from an oil gland over its
feathers to condition them and
make them water repellent
endothermic vertebrates that
have hair, teeth specialized for
eating, and whose females
have mammary glands
milk-producing glands of
female mammals used to feed
their young
animal that eats plants and
animals or animal flesh
animal that eats only other
animals or the remains of other
animals
animal that eats only plants or
parts of plants
lay eggs - mammals
a mammal with an external
pouch for the development of
its immature young
-used when birds fly
-on wings and tail
-help bird steer and keep it
from spinning out of control
-next to skin of adult birds
-cover bodies of young birds
birds
birds
-the oil conditions feathers
birds
-found almost everywhere on
earth
-adapted its own unique way
of life
-one of four other glands found
in mammals
humans
moose
cat
found in female mammals
-usually have all four types of
teeth
-large canine teeth
-eats less often than herbivore
humans
-eats more than carnivores
-large molars
-mandible
-female incubates the eggs for
ten days
-not all marsupials have
pouches
cows
horses
sheep
duck-billed platypus
wolves
tigers
opossum
kangaroo
placental
gestation period
placenta
umbilical cord
a mammal whose offspring
develop inside a placenta in
the females uterus
period during which an embryo
develops in the uterus; length
of time varies among species
a sac-like organ in which a
placental embryo develops,
absorbs oxygen and food from
the mother's blood
connects embryo to the
placenta
-the period inside the uterus
varies from each species
-650 days elephants
-16 days hamsters
-varies from species to species
squirrels
humans
deer
humans
humans
-moves food and oxygen form
the placenta to the embryo
-removes wastes
humans