Animal Classification-A is for Arthropod, and V is for Verte

Animal Classification

A is for Arthropod and V is for Vertebrate!

Classifying Animals

All animals can be classified into two different groups: those with backbones and those without backbones. The backbone is a series of small bones that go from a living thing's head down their back. The scientific name for the bones in the back is "vertebrae." So, animals with backbones are called vertebrates. Animals without backbones are called invertebrates.

Multiple Choice

What is the best description of a vertebrate?

• Animals with a backbone

• Animals with no spine

• Animals with gills

• Animals with hard scales

Classifying

 Scientists sort animals into groups. Sorting or arranging things into groups is called classifying. To classify animals, scientists start with major characteristics like if the animal has a backbone or not. Then, they can sort the animals into even smaller groups using other physical characteristics and behaviors.

Multiple Select

Scientists classify animals based on which of the characteristics listed?

• Physical Characteristics

• Their birthplace

• Behaviors

• Vertebrates/Invertebrates

There are five major Vertebrate groups

• Mammals

• Birds

• Reptiles

• Fish

• Amphibians

• Largest Invertebrate Group: Anthropods

Mammals

Mammals- Vertebrates

- Have hair or fur

- Nurse their young with milk

- Give live birth

- Are warm-blooded

Reptiles

- Vertebrates

- Have tough skin with scales or plates

- Lay eggs

- Are cold-blooded

Multiple Choice

Which sentence best describes the behavior of a reptile such as a tortoise?

• Tortoises have gills

• Tortoises are invertebrates with hair

• Tortoises have tough skin and scales

• Tortoises lay eggs and live on land

Multiple Choice

How would you describe a mammal such as a gorilla?

• Gorillas are invertebrates with fur

• Gorillas are vertebrates with hair all over their bodies

• Gorillas grow hard outer coverings in the winter

• Gorillas are mammals that lay eggs

Fish

- Vertebrates

- Have scales and fins

- Lay eggs

- Are cold-blooded

- Have gills

Birds

Birds- Vertebrates

- Have feathers

- Lay eggs

- Are warm-blooded

Multiple Choice

I am a vertebrate with scales, gills and lay eggs. What am I?

• Tortoise

• Frog

• Fish

• Monkey

Amphibians

- Vertebrates

- Have moist skin that they can breathe through

- Lay eggs

- Are cold-blooded

- Most young have gills but grow lungs as adults

Arthropods

- Invertebrates

- Have hard outer body with segments and pairs of legs

- Lay eggs

- Examples are insects, crabs, lobsters, spiders, centipedes, and millipedes

Multiple Select

A Black Widow Spider is an arthropod or invertebrate that has a hard outer body and jointed legs.

• True

• False

What are Traits?

All living things have physical characteristics, called traits that are passed to offspring from parents. Similar living things have some traits in common, like all mammals have hair or fur. But traits also have small differences, called variation. For example, some people have brown hair, while others have blond hair. What are some unique traits you have?

The Environment and Traits

• Variation in the color of moths was affected when the first factories were built. There was a lot of smoke, and the pollution turned the trees nearby almost black.

• Variation in the height of giraffes is affected by the availability of food in the savanna. There are leaves in the tall branches of the trees to eat.

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of a trait that has been influenced by the environment?

• A cheetah having yellow eyes due to the hot sun

• A gorilla having thick fur due to the cold temperatures

• A black moth responding to the trees turning black from a fire

• A black bear having wrinkled skin due to the weather

Multiple Choice

Organisms will have a variation of traits due to the difference in traits ____________.

• based on their body structure

• because of the way they smell.

• passed on from their parents

• of their siblings