Vertebrate Characteristics

Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles,

Birds, and Mammals

Vertebrates

Mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and fish all have something in common - they all have a backbone. Here are the basics on each group.

Mammals and birds are warm-blooded, which means that they can make their own body heat even when it is cold outside. Whether it is sunny and hot outside or there is a snowstorm and it is very cold, warm-blooded animals have body temperatures that usually stay the same

Reproduction (Baby animals!)

• Another difference is the way animals give birth to their young (babies).

• Most baby mammals grow inside their mother until they are born. This is something that makes mammals different, because most other kinds of animals do something else...

Fish lay many eggs - sometimes millions of tiny eggs! They are also laid in the water.

The process amphibians go through is called "metamorphosis". Baby amphibian looks

completely different than the adult amphibians!

• Amphibians lay thousands and sometimes millions of small, soft eggs, and they lay them in the water! The eggs are jelly-like.

• Amphibian means "double life"... the early part of an amphibian's life is spent in the water, and usually as they get older then they also spend time on land. Think of a tadpole turning into a frog!!

Reptiles usually lay eggs, and the babies then grow inside the egg until they are ready to come out.

Sometimes reptiles will give birth like mammals, without eggs.

Birds lay eggs, with a very hard outer shell. Birds generally lay 1 to 17 eggs at a time

[Mammals and milk]

• Another important characteristic is that mammal babies drink milk from their mothers until they are old enough to eat other food.  

• You may have seen this with mammals and their babies - including humans,who are also mammals!

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