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Vertebratavertebrates
Vertebrates, which include fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals, all share a vertebral column, or a chain of bony elements (vertebrae) that run along the dorsal surface from head to tail and form the main skeletal axis of the body. The vertebral column surrounds and more or less replaces the notochord as the chief "stiffener" of the body in locomotion. Some characteristics shared by most or all vertebrates (in addition to those traits shared among all chordates) include the following (after Hickman, 1994):
- integument of two divisions, including an outer epidermis and an inner dermis; integument often modified to produce hair, scales, feathers, glands, horn, etc.
- replacement of notochord by vertebral column more or less complete, depending on group
- bony or cartilaginous endoskeleton consisting of cranium, visceral arches, limb girdles, and 2 pairs of appendages
- muscular, perforated pharynx; this structure is the site of gills in fishes but is much reduced in adult land-dwelling forms (although it is extremely important in embryonic development of all vertebrates)
- movements provided by muscles attached to endoskeleton
- digestive system with large digestive glands, liver, and pancreas
- ventral heart with 2-4 chambers
- blood with red blood corpuscles containing hemoglobin, and in addition, white corpuscles
- well developed body cavity (coelom) containing visceral systems
- paired kidneys with ducts to drain waste to exterior
- most vertebrates with two sexes, each with paired gonads (there are some exceptions)
- general body plan consisting of head, trunk, 2 pairs of appendages, and postanal tail (but these structures are highly modified in many vertebrates and sometimes absent).
Contributors
Phil Myers (author), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
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Classification
- Kingdom Animalia animals
- Phylum Chordata chordates
- Subphylum Vertebrata vertebrates
Related Taxa
- Class Actinopterygii ray-finned fishes
- Genus Alopias
- Class Amphibia frogs, salamanders, and caecilians
- Species Callorhinchus milii Elephant fish
- Species Carcharhinus albimarginatus silvertip shark
- Species Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Shark
- Species Carcharhinus brachyurus Bronze
- Species Carcharhinus brevipinna Great blacktip shark
- Species Carcharhinus falciformis Silky Shark
- Species Carcharhinus leucas Cub shark
- Species Carcharhinus limbatus Shark
- Species Carcharhinus longimanus Nigano shark
- Species Carcharhinus obscurus Shovelnose
- Species Carcharhinus plumbeus Brown shark
- Species Carcharhinus tilstoni Australian blacktip shark
- Species Carcharias taurus Dogfish shark
- Species Carcharodon carcharias Great white shark
- Species Cetorhinus maximus basking shark
- Genus Chiloscyllium
- Species Chlamydoselachus anguineus Frill shark
- Species Dalatias licha Seal shark
- Family Dasyatidae Stingrays
- Species Dipturus laevis Barn-door skate
- Species Galeocerdo cuvier Leopard shark
- Species Ginglymostoma cirratum Cat shark
- Family Gymnuridae Butterfly rays
- Species Heterodontus francisci Horn shark
- Species Heterodontus portusjacksoni Bullhead
- Species Hexanchus griseus Bluntnose Sixgill Shark
- Family Hexatrygonidae Sixgill stingrays
- Species Ichthyomyzon castaneus Chestnut lamprey
- Species Ichthyomyzon fossor Northern brook lamprey
- Species Ichthyomyzon gagei Southern brook lamprey
- Species Ichthyomyzon unicuspis Silver lamprey
- Species Isistius brasiliensis Cigar shark
- Species Isurus oxyrinchus Mackerel porbeagle
- Species Lamna ditropis Salmon shark
- Species Lamna nasus Blue dog
- Species Lampetra appendix American brook lamprey
- Species Lampetra tridentata Pacific lamprey
- Species Latimeria chalumnae Coelacanth
- Species Lepidosiren paradoxa South American lungfish
- Class Mammalia mammals
- Species Megachasma pelagios Megamouth shark
- Species Mitsukurina owstoni Elfin shark
- Family Myliobatidae Eagle and manta rays
- Genus Negaprion
- Species Neoceratodus forsteri Australian lungfish
- Species Notorynchus cepedianus Bluntnose sevengill shark
- Species Orectolobus maculatus Common carpet shark
- Species Petromyzon marinus Eel sucker
- Family Plesiobatidae Deepwater stingray
- Species Potamotrygon motoro Black river stingray
- Species Prionace glauca Blue Shark
- Species Pristiophorus cirratus Common sawshark
- Species Pristiophorus schroederi Bahamas saw shark
- Species Pristis pectinata Common sawfish
- Species Pseudocarcharias kamoharai Crocodile shark
- Species Raja clavata Maiden ray
- Species Raja eglanteria Clear-nosed brier skate
- Class Reptilia turtles, snakes, lizards, and relatives
- Species Rhincodon typus whale shark
- Species Rhinobatos annulatus Lesser guitarfish
- Species Rhinobatos productus Guitarfish
- Family Scyliorhinidae Cat sharks
- Species Somniosus microcephalus Greenland shark
- Species Somniosus pacificus Pacific Sleeper Shark
- Species Sphyrna lewini scalloped hammerhead shark
- Species Sphyrna mokarran Great Hammerhead
- Species Sphyrna tiburo Bonnet shark
- Species Squalus acanthias Grayfish
- Species Squatina aculeata Sawback angel shark
- Species Squatina californica Angel shark
- Species Stegostoma fasciatum Leopard shark
- Species Triaenodon obesus whitelip reef shark
- Species Triakis semifasciata Leopard shark
- Family Urolophidae Round rays
To cite this page: Myers, P. 2001. "Vertebrata" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 21, 2024 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vertebrata/
Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Grants DRL 0089283, DRL 0628151, DUE 0633095, DRL 0918590, and DUE 1122742. Additional support has come from the Marisla Foundation, UM College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Museum of Zoology, and Information and Technology Services.
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