VertebratesGenesis 1:25

“God made all kinds of wild animals. He made all kinds of livestock. He

made all kinds of creatures that move along the ground. And god saw that

it was good.”

What is a “vertebrate”?

An animal WITH a backbone!

Compare: Plants vs. Animals

Five Groups of Vertebrates

• Mammals• Fish• Amphibians• Reptiles• Birds

Mammals

• Mammals are alike in 5 ways:#1- They make milk for their babies and take good care of their young.#2- They have at least some hair.#3- No mammal has more than four limbs.#4- All mammals are warm-blooded.#5- All mammals have lungs and breathe air.

Fish

• Fish are alike in 3 ways:#1- All fish have gills.#2- All fish have fins.#3- Fish are cold-blooded.

Amphibians

• Amphibians are alike in 4 ways:#1- All amphibians breathe with gills in water when they are born, and some breathe with lungs on land later.#2- All amphibians have smooth, moist skin.#3- All amphibians lay eggs.#4- All amphibians are cold-blooded.

Reptiles

• Reptiles are alike in 3 ways:#1- All reptiles breathe with lungs.#2- All reptiles are covered with dry scales.#3- All reptiles are cold-blooded.

Birds

• Birds are alike in 5 ways:#1- All birds have feathers.#2- All birds have wings.#3- All birds have two legs.#4- All birds breathe with lungs.#5- All birds have bills or beaks.