Nathalie D.

Cabaron Grade VI Love

A vertebrate is an animal with a spinal
cord surrounded by cartilage or bone. The word
comes from vertebrae, the bones that make up
the spine. Animals that are not vertebrates are
called invertebrates. Vertebrates
include birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles,
and mammals. The parts of the
vertebrate skeleton are:
1. Braincase: A braincase or cranium protects
the brain.
2. Vertebrae: A series of short, stiff vertebrae are
separated by joints. This internal backbone
protects the spinal cord. The joints between the
vertebrae let the backbone bend.
3. Bones: support and protect the body's soft
tissues and provides points for muscle
attachment.
4. Gill arches: Gill arches in the pharynx of fish and
some amphibians support the gills. In the
majority of vertebrates some of the arches have
evolved into other organs, such as jaws.
Examples of vertebrates are mammals, birds,
and fish. A few tens of thousands of species have
been identified. The term "fish" is used to describe at
least four different kinds of vertebrates.