Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
The vertebrate subphylum contains a tremendous amount of diversity ranging from fish to man itself.
Subphylum: Vertebrata
The vertebrate subphylum contains a tremendous amount of diversity ranging from fish to man itself.
All animals of Vertebrata are characterized by their shared trait of having a vertebral column, which are a chain of bone running from the dorsal side of the body from the head to the tail, this becomes the main axis of the body's skeleton. The only exception to this is the hagfish, class Myxini, which lacks a vertebrae. Essentially the vertebrae replaces the role of the notochord and is primarily used in the body's movement, depending on the group.
Image by Ryan Somma, click here to for original.
Most vertebrates are classified through their sharing of other general characteristics. A two division integument often includes an outer and inner epidermis. Vertebrates' integument are often modified with varying parts produced, such as scales, hair, glands, or horns. Their endoskeleton is bony and/or cartilaginous, often containing a cranium, limb girdles, two pairs of appendages, and visceral arches. Often their body is covered in muscles, and they contain a perforated pharnyx, which are seen in fish gills, with the exception of most adult land-dwelling animals, which have a similar anatomical function at a point during development. Locomotion is often provided in combination with the muscles connected to the endoskeleton. In addition, most vertebrates have a wide variety of anatomical systems such as a digestive system containing a liver, a pancreas, and large digestive glands.
Animals belonging to vertebrata also often have a cardiovascular system involving a ventral heart having two to four chambers, depending on the group. With that, blood is pumped and is often red, containing red corpuscles of hemoglobin and white corpuscles. Their body cavities are usually well-developed, containing an included pair of kidneys used in filtration and excretion of wastes that are then drained to the exterior of the body. A majority of vertebrates can be found in two different sexes, distinguished by paired gonads, with exceptions being hermaphroditic.
Animals belonging to vertebrata also often have a cardiovascular system involving a ventral heart having two to four chambers, depending on the group. With that, blood is pumped and is often red, containing red corpuscles of hemoglobin and white corpuscles. Their body cavities are usually well-developed, containing an included pair of kidneys used in filtration and excretion of wastes that are then drained to the exterior of the body. A majority of vertebrates can be found in two different sexes, distinguished by paired gonads, with exceptions being hermaphroditic.