Vertebrates
&
Invertebrates
Interactive Presentation
designed by Mr. Phillips
July 2004
Introduction
You are about to begin an interactive
presentation.
Caution: This is not a normal presentation!
YOU will be participating!
You will be learning about two main classifications
of animals:
 Vertebrates, invertebrates, and the
differences between them.
Directions
There are several ways to navigate through
this presentation:
1. On some slides you can click on the boxes
that look like this:
2. You can click the “next” or “back” buttons
like the one at the bottom left of this
page.
3. For slides with questions, just click on your
choice.
Presentation Objectives
1. Given access to this presentation, the
students will navigate through this
presentation with 90% accuracy.
2. Given questions within the presentation, the
students will correctly answer 70% of the
questions.
3. Given at least 30 minutes to explore the
presentation and given characteristics of a
specific animal, students will be able to
identify whether the animal is a vertebrate
or an invertebrate with 80% accuracy.
Classification of Animals
Animals
Click on vertebrates or
invertebrates to learn
more about each!!
Vertebrates
Click below after you
have read about
vertebrates and
invertebrates
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
•Animals that are vertebrates
are simply animals with a
backbone.
•Vertebrates have an
endoskeleton
–It offers support and protects
the soft parts of the animal.
Vertebrates
Vertebrates can either be ectotherms or endotherms.
Ectotherms (cold-blooded)
•Body temperature changes to match their
surroundings.
•Endotherms (warm-blooded)
•Regulate their body temperature so that it
remains constant
Vertebrates
•Vertebrate animals fall into the
chordate phylum.
•The chordate phylum is divided into
classes.
–fish
–amphibians
–reptiles
–birds
–mammals
Vertebrates
This chart shows the vertebrates organized into classes.
Click on a box to learn more about that class of vertebrates!
When you are done, click the link at the bottom left of the screen to learn about invertebrates!
Vertebrates
Fish
Click here to go
to Invertebrates
Amphibians
Birds
Reptiles
Mammals
Fish
• Fish are cold-blooded animals.
– This means that their blood
temperature changes with the
temperature of the surrounding water.
• Most fish live close to the shore in
water that is less than 600 feet
deep.
– In the ocean, the deeper the water,
the dimmer the light.
– Many fish who live at 2000 feet or
deeper glow in the dark.
Fish
• All fish have gills. These gills absorb
oxygen from the water and pass it along
to the bloodstream.
• A fishes scales are called armor because
they protect it. A slimy substance
moistens the scales. This protects the
fish from infection and helps the fish slip
through the water faster.
Fish
• Fish stay afloat because they have swim
bladders. By changing the amount of air in its
bladder, a fish never rises or sinks, but stays
balanced.
Fish
•Fins move the fish forward, steer it, and help the
fish to keep its balance.
•The pectoral and pelvic fins are used for balance, steering,
and braking.
•The dorsal fin keeps the fish from rolling over and works
along with the anal fin.
•The tail (caudal fin) provides power, thrushing the fish
forward.
Fish
Fish are actually divided into 3 different classes.
Click the boxes to learn about these 3 types.
You must click the boxes in order from top to bottom.
Bony Fish
Cartilaginous Fish
Jawless Fish
Bony Fish
• Bony fish make up about 95% of all
fish.
• Skeletons are made up of bone.
• Their scaly skin is covered with a
slimy mucous.
• Their mouth is generally at the
front of the body.
• They have a tail fin.
Click the fish to see a diagram of bony fish.
Cartilaginous Fish
• Cartilaginous fish include the
sharks, skates and rays.
• Although these look different,
they have many features in
common.
Great White Shark
• None of them have any true bone
- their skeleton is made of
cartilage.
• They have strong jaws
Ray
Chilean Skate
Cartilaginous Fish
Continued…
• Their mouth is on the underside of their
body.
• Their eyes are on the top of their body.
• They cannot see food as it enters their
mouth.
• Some sharks solve this problem by touching
their food briefly with their nose first.
– Some also use a powerful electrosensory system.
Click the shark
to see a diagram
of a shark!
Jawless Fish
• This is a primitive eel-like fish which doesn't
have a true jaw, but a sucker-like mouth (like
suction cups!) and rasping teeth.
• There are two main types:
– Lampreys
• Lampreys are found in freshwater lakes and streams as
well as in salt water.
– Hagfish
• Hagfish, or blind eels, are found only in salt water and
feed mainly on dead fish.
lamprey
Let’s Review Fish!!!
Click on the correct choice.
The majority of fish fall into which class?
A. Bony Fish
A. Cartilaginous Fish
A. Jawless Fish
You chose B. Cartilaginous Fish.
That is incorrect.
Think about the majority of fish you have seen
in your life…what is hard inside their body?
You chose C. Jawless Fish.
That is incorrect.
Think about the majority of fish you have seen
in your life…what is hard inside their body?
Yes. The correct choice is A Bony Fish.
About 95% of all fish are considered bony fish!
Let’s Review Fish!!!
Click on the correct choice.
Which fin gives the fish balance,
steering, and braking?
A. Dorsal Fin
A. Caudal Fin (tail)
A. Pectoral and Pelvic Fins
You chose B. Caudal Fin (tail).
That is incorrect.
The caudal fin (tail) actually gives the fish the
power to move forward.
You chose A. Dorsal Fin.
That is incorrect.
The dorsal fin keeps the fish from rolling over.
Yes. The correct choice is
C. Pectoral and Pelvic Fin.
These allow the fish to balance, steer, and brake.
Amphibians
• These animals have
smooth skin
• Most spend at least part
of their life in water.
• Amphibians are coldblooded (hibernate in
winter).
• They usually have three
life stages: egg, larva,
adult (metamorphosis).
• Includes: Frogs, Toads,
Salamanders, and Newts.
Ever wonder what the difference between a frog and a toad
was? Click here to find out!
Salamander
newts
toad
Reptiles
• These animals have dry, scaly
skin.
• They are cold-blooded
(hibernate in winter).
• Some live in the water, but most
are adapted to life on land.
• Most reptiles lay soft-shelled
eggs, but some bear live young.
• Includes: Lizards, Snakes,
Turtles, and Crocodiles.
Fast Fact!
Did you know that snakes smell with their tongue!
Iguana
Turtle
Crocodile
Birds
• Birds are warmblooded.
• They have hollow
bones and feathers.
• Most can fly at least
short distances.
• Birds are born from
hard-shelled eggs.
• Includes: Raptors,
Gulls, Songbirds, and
Fowl.
Raptor
Gull
Fowl
Mammals
• These animals usually have
hair/fur.
• They give birth to live young
and feed their young with
milk.
• Have the most complex brains
and nervous systems of any
animal on earth.
• Mammals are warm-blooded.
• Includes: Rodents, Hoofed
animals, Marsupials, Bats,
Rabbits, Weasels, Raccoons,
Bears, Dogs, and Cats.
Rodent
Bat
Dog
Let’s try one quick
review question!
Vertebrate Review
You see a greenish-brownish colored animal
walking in your yard. You get brave, and
decide to touch it. It’s skin is dry and
scaly. What kind of animal is it most
likely?
A. Amphibian
B. Mammal
C. Reptile
You chose A. Amphibian.
That is incorrect.
Amphibians have smooth skin.
You chose B. Mammal.
That is incorrect.
A mammal’s skin would most likely be furry.
Yes. The correct choice is
C. reptile
Reptiles have dry, scaly skin.
Fun Facts!
• What’s the difference between an alligator and a
crocodile?
• Click here to find out!
• What’s the difference between a reptile and an
amphibian?
• Click here to find out!
Invertebrates
• Invertebrates are animals without a
backbone.
• 97% of all animals are invertebrates!
• They are divided into different groups or
phyla (plural of phylums).
• Scientists look at something called
symmetry to help classify invertebrates.
Invertebrates
Radial symmetry: body parts are arranged around
in a circle around a central point (starfish).
Bilateral symmetry: have two sides that will
match if you draw a line down the center of their
body (lobster).
Asymetric: these animals have no definite shape
at all (sponges).
Invertebrates
Click on a box to learn more about that class of invertebrates!
When you are done, click the man at the bottom left of the screen to move on!
Cnidarian
Sponges
Arthropods
Invertebrates
Click below when you
are done learning about
invertebrates:
Echinoderms
Annelids
Flatworms
Mollusks
Cnidarians
• Have radial symmetry
• Sometimes they have stinging
tentacles around their mouths that
they use to catch food.
Jellyfish
Polyp
Sponges
• Asymmetric bodies
• They filter food out of the water
as it passes through them.
Roundworms
• These outnumber every other
animal on earth.
• They can be predators, parasites,
or decomposers.
Arthropods
Crustaceans
Arachnids
Insects
•
•
•
•
Have jointed body parts
Bilateral symmetry
Segmented bodies
Lobster, house fly,
beetle, butterflies,
spiders
House Fly
Lobster
Butterfly
Beetle
Tarantula
Arthropods
Crustaceans
Crustaceans
Arachnids
Insects
• Crustaceans live mostly in the ocean or other waters.
• Most commonly known crustaceans are the crab and
lobster.
• Crustaceans have a hard, external shell which protects
their body.
• Crustaceans have a head and abdomen. The head has
antennae which are part of their sensory system. The
abdomen includes the heart, digestive system and
reproductive system.
• The abdomen also has appendages, such as legs, for
crawling and swimming. Many crustaceans also have
claws that help with crawling and eating.
Arthropods
Arachnids
Crustaceans
Arachnids
Insects
• Arachnids are a type of
arthropod. You know many of them
as spiders.
• Like other arthropods, the
arachnids have a hard exoskeleton
and jointed appendages for
walking.
• Unlike other arthropods,
arachnids do not have antennae.
• Common arachnids are the spider,
scorpions, ticks and mites.
Arthropods
Insects
Crustaceans
Arachnids
Insects
• Insects are the largest group of
arthropods. There are over 800,000
different types of insects.
• The insect's head has a pair of
antennae, and a pair of compound
eyes.
• Compound eyes are different from
human eyes which have a single lens
for each eye. Compound eyes have
many lenses for each eye. For
example, the fly has about 4,000
lenses in a single eye. This provides
them with very good eyesight.
Flatworms
• Long, flat bodies
• Bilateral symmetry
• Most are parasites that invade
other creatures and live off of
them.
• Planaria, tapeworms, liver flukes
Planaria
Tapeworm
Liver Flukes
Annelids
• Segmented worms
• Ringed segments
• Earthworms, leeches
Leech
Earthworm
Mollusks
• Soft bodies
• Protective shell
• Land mollusks include snails and slugs
and have lungs.
• Water mollusks include oysters,
mussels, clams, squids, and octopuses
which use gills to breathe.
Oyster
Snail
Octopus
Echinoderms
•
•
•
•
Spiny skin
Radial symmetry
Thousands of tube-like feet
Starfish, sea urchin, sand dollar, and
sea cucumber.
Sand Dollar
Starfish
Sea Urchin
Sea Cucumber
Let’s Review
What type of symmetry does the
following invertebrate have?
a) Radial
b) Bilateral
c) Asymmetric
You chose c. asymmetric.
That is incorrect.
Think about the left and right sides of a
butterfly…
You chose a. radial.
That is incorrect.
Are all their body parts arranged around a
circle?
Yes. The correct choice is
B. bilateral
Both sides of the butterfly are idential.
Congratulations!
You have just finished learning
about vertebrates and
invertebrates!
You are now an expert zoo keeper!
Tomorrow we will continue our
quest….