Vertebrates: Definition, Meaning, Characteristics, Classifications, Examples

Vertebrates are animals in the subphylum Vertebrata characterized by a backbone or spinal column. In defining vertebrates, these animals have a skeleton that is internally found to support their body. This is called as vertebral column. This is mainly found in animalia. Vertebrate animals include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, each with unique general characteristics of vertebrates like a notochord and a dorsal nerve cord. Most of the animals fall in this category. This is an important part of the chapter Animal Kingdom Biology.

This Story also Contains

1. What are Vertebrates?
2. Characteristics of Vertebrates
3. Classification of Vertebrates

What are Vertebrates?

Vertebrates are animals that belong to the subphylum Vertebrata. They feature a backbone or spinal cord that is part of an internal skeleton that provides basic support to their body and lets complex movement take place. Vertebrates are one of the most advanced organisms on Earth and they vary greatly from fish to mammals.

They are distributed all over the globe from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains. These vertebrates play a very important role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystems and Biodiversity.

General characteristics of vertebrates, the classification of the vertebrates, and examples of vertebrate animals are highly important when studying ecology and evolution. Vertebrates can also be categorized into distinct classes of vertebrates that each boasts different characteristics.

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Characteristics of Vertebrates

General characteristics of vertebrates help define this group and are important in vertebrate classification. Vertebrates include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. These vertebrate characteristics are vital to the study of vertebrate animals and their evolutionary development. Several key anatomical and physiological features distinguish vertebrates. These are:

Notochord: The notochord is a flexible, rod-shaped body structure found in all vertebrate embryos. It gives mechanical support and forms the backbone, or vertebral column, of a vertebrate.

Dorsal Hollow Nerve Cord: It is a unique feature in vertebrates. It develops into the brain and spinal cord to form the central nervous system of the vertebrate.

Pharyngeal Slits: These are the opening present in the pharynx of all the vertebrates at some point in their development. They develop into gills in aquatic animals and into different structures of the head and neck in terrestrials.

Post-anal Tail: In most vertebrates, there exists a tail behind the anus that provides balance and aids locomotion, among many other functions.

Vertebrates have an internal skeleton, made of cartilage or bone, that is growing along with the body to support their complex body structure.

Examples of Different Vertebrates

Classification of Vertebrates

Vertebrates are classified according to their anatomical, physiological, and genetic characteristics besides their evolutionary relationships. This classification shows vertebrate animals are diverse and that their general characteristics range in anything from a fish to a mammal. There are the following major classes of vertebrates:

• Agnatha: These vertebrate animals do not possess jaws, paired fins, and scales, and a cartilage-based skeleton is present.For example Lampreys and hagfish.
• Chondrichthyes: These have a skeleton made of cartilage and placoid scales.For example Sharks and rays.
• Osteichthyes: Vertebrates classified under this class are covered in bony skeletons and sport an operculum which comes over the gills.For example Salmon and goldfish.
• Amphibia: Vertebrates in this class have dual life stages such as aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults and permeable skin.For example Frogs and salamanders.
• Reptilia: These vertebrates have dry, scaly skin and lay amniotic eggs.For example Snakes and lizards.
• Aves: Vertebrates classified as birds have features that include feathers, beaks, and light skeletons.For example Eagles and sparrows.
• Mammalia: Mammals have hair or fur, and mammary glands and are endothermic or warm-blooded.For example humans and whales.

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