What is a vertebrate?
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Electricity
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Living things and their habitats
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Summary
What is a vertebrate?
In a nutshell
Vertebrates are animals with a backbone. They can be further divided into five groups: mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians.
| | Key characteristics | Examples |
| Mammals | Body hair or fur, breathe through lungs, a steady body temperature and babies that are born live and drink milk. | Fox, human and lion. |
| Birds | Feathers, breathe through lungs, a steady body temperature and lay eggs. | Chicken, falcon and penguin. |
| Reptiles | Dry scales, breathe through lungs, body temperature changes and lay eggs. | Crocodile, snake and tortoise. |
| Fish | Scales, breathe through gills, body temperature changes and lay soft eggs in water. | Goldfish, salmon and shark. |
| Amphibians | Damp skin, breathe through gills and then lungs, body temperature changes and lay soft eggs in water. | Frog, newt and toad. |
Vertebrate classification key
Classification keys can help us identify animals and plants. The classification key below can help us identify the different groups of vertebrates.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
What do classification keys do?
Classification keys can help us identify animals and plants.
What are the five types of vertebrate?
The five main types of vertebrate are mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles.
What does vertebrate mean?
Vertebrates are animals with a backbone.