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Vertebrates Advanced

16.4 Vertebrates - Advanced

Difficulty Level: Basic | Created by: CK-12
Last Modified: Aug 17, 2016
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What traits set this animal apart from invertebrate chordates?

This small colorful fish is a vertebrate - it has a backbone. And vertebral columns first evolved in
fish. Think about the invertebrate chordates. They live in the ocean, so it only makes sense that
fish would be the first true vertebrates. Vertebrates are a subphylum of the phylum Chordata.
Like all chordates, vertebrates have a notochord, a dorsal, hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits,
and a post-anal tail. What other characteristics do vertebrates have?

Characteristics of Vertebrates
The vertebrates are a subphylum within the phylum Chordata. They consist of approximately
50,000 different species that include fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. They are a highly diverse
group of animals as you can see from the examples shown in Figure below. What are the
characteristics that are shared by all vertebrates? How do vertebrates differ from other chordates
discussed in previous concepts? The following concepts will address these questions. In
subsequent concepts we will consider how vertebrates are classified into different classes, and
we will examine some of the major trends in vertebrate evolution.
 [Figure 2]

In each of these species the vertebral column varies greatly in length and in the type of support it
provides. The following are examples of different species found within the subphylum
Vertebrata: (a) yellow perch, (b) frog, (c) alligator, (d) penguin, (e) giraffe, and (f) grizzly bear.
As a class within the phylum Chordata, all vertebrates possess a notochord (at least during
embryonic stages), a dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits (only during embryonic stages for many
vertebrates), and a post-anal tail. In the Chordates: Characteristics (Advanced) concept we
considered each of these chordate-specific characteristics in detail. In addition to the traits that
vertebrates share with all chordates, there are a number of features that distinguish vertebrates
from the other chordate subphyla (urochordates and cephalochordates). The primary distinction
is the presence of a vertebral column, or backbone, as shown in Figure below.

[Figure 3]

The human vertebral column, or backbone. The defining feature of vertebrates is the presence of
a backbone consisting of a series of repeating units called vertebrae. The particular shape and
design of the vertebrae from different species varies, as does the number and organization of the
vertebrae within the backbone. The function of the backbone is to provide structural support to
the organism and to protect the spinal cord that lies within the column.
Other distinguishing features shared by vertebrates include the following:

 An endoskeleton made of bone and/or cartilage.

  A centralized nervous system with a brain and sensory organs located in a distinct
head region.
 A cranium/skull protecting the brain.

 A muscular system attached to the endoskeleton to enable movement.

 A closed circulatory system with a ventral heart having 2-4 chambers.

 Skin that often produces scales, feathers, fur, or hair.

 An excretory system consisting of paired kidneys.

 An endocrine system of glands located throughout the body.
 Separate sexes that reproduce by sexual reproduction.
 Neural crest cells.

Summary
 The vertebrates are a subphylum within the phylum Chordata. They consist of
approximately 50,000 different species that include fish, reptiles, birds, and
mammals.

 As a class within the phylum Chordata, all vertebrates possess a notochord (at least
during embryonic stages), a dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits (only during
embryonic stages for many vertebrates), and a post-anal tail.

 The main characteristic that distinguishes vertebrates from invertebrates is the

presence of a vertebral column.

Review
1. Most animals, other than vertebrates, have an open circulatory system or no real
circulatory system. What about vertebrates?

2. What is the main function of the vertebral column?

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PreviousChordate Evolution Advanced
NextVertebrate Structure and Function Advanced

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