Classifying vertebrates

Classifying vertebrates

by Mat Toktosun

​Classifying vertebrates

​Vertebrates are animals with backbones. They are classified into

five groups called classes.

Multiple Choice

Vertebrates are classified into___ groups called classes.

• 7

• 6

• 5

• 3

​Fish

​Fish are vertebrates with fins. Their skin is covered with scales. They breathe using gills. They lay eggs in the water.

Open Ended

How does fish breathe?

​Amphibians

​Amphibians include frogs, toads,

newts, and salamanders. The

adults live on land and breathe

using their lungs. They have four

limbs. They lay eggs in water.

The young are called tadpoles

and develop in water where they

breathe using gills. Amphibians

have smooth skin without scales.

Open Ended

Please give an example for amphibians.

​Reptiles

​Reptiles are vertebrates with

scaly skin. Most of them have

four legs, although snakes have

no legs. Some reptiles

live on land, but some-such

as crocodiles - live in water.

Reptiles reproduce by laying

eggs on land.

Multiple Choice

Salamanders are reptiles.

• True

• False

​Birds

​Birds are vertebrates with wings,

feathers and a beak. They lay

eggs on land.

​Mammals

​This is the group that humans

belong to. Mammals are

vertebrates with hair. Mammals

give birth to live young, which

are fed on milk from the mother.

Open Ended

Please give an example for class mammals

​Summary

• ​Vertebrates are animals with backbones.

• Vertebrates are classified into five classes - fish, amphibians,

reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Open Ended

Decide which group of vertebrates each of these animals belongs to.

(You may need to look some of them up if you don’t know anything

about them.) Give a reason for each of your decisions.

tiger ostrich toad whale

lizard sea turtle mudskipper