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What is a Vertebrate?. Vertebrate Anatomy – Unit 1. FIRST: A Vertebrate is an ANIMAL. What is an Animal? KINGDOM Level of Taxonomy Includes all organisms that possess the following characteristics: Multicellular Heterotrophic No cell walls around cells Several other characteristics.
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What is a Vertebrate? Vertebrate Anatomy – Unit 1
FIRST: A Vertebrate is an ANIMAL • What is an Animal? • KINGDOM Level of Taxonomy • Includes all organisms that possess the following characteristics: • Multicellular • Heterotrophic • No cell walls around cells • Several other characteristics
SECOND: A Vertebrate is a CHORDATE • What is a Chordate? • PHYLUM level of Taxonomy • Includes all ANIMALS that possess the following characteristics: • Dorsal Hollow Nerve Cord • Pharyngeal Gill Slits • Notochord • Post-anal Tail • A few chordates possess ALL these characteristics at all life stages, but most only possess all of these during EMBRYONIC stages.
THIRD: A Vertebrate is a VERTEBRATE • What is a VERTEBRATE? • SUBPHYLUM level of Taxonomy • A level not normally addressed in intro bio classes • Includes all CHORDATES that possess the following characteristics: • A BACKBONE that protects the nerve cord and supports the body; replaces the notochord • This also generally implies the presence of a cranium (skull) to protect the brain. • Some animals have ONLY the cranium, thus they are not quite true vertebrates
TRUE or FALSE? • All CHORDATES are VERTEBRATES. • All VERTEBRATES are CHORDATES.
The term Chordata comes from • The Notochord
About the Notochord • In a Vertebrate Chordate, • the Notochord is present only during the EMBRYONIC stages of life. • The notochord is replaced by the backbone
About the Nerve Cord • Dorsal • Hollow • Anterior end enlarged to create the BRAIN
Pharyngeal Gill Slits • Pharynx = throat • Present in embryos • These slits in the throat area become the gills in fish and other vertebrates that breath water • In mammals and other land vertebrates they become structures of the lower jaw, face and throat.
Other Chordate Characteristics • Closed circulatory system • Blood always contained in blood vessels • Muscle blocks or segments called somites in embryos
Who are the Chordates closest relatives? • The closest INVERTEBRATE relative of the chordates are the members of Phylum Echinodermata • The Sea Stars • The Sea Urchins • The Sea Cucumbers • How can this be? • The embryonic development of echinoderms has a very important similarity to the embryonic development of chordates, even though the adult forms look very different.
Echinoderms and Chordates • The embryonic opening called a blastopore becomes an ANUS in both echinoderms and chordates. • In all other INVERTEBRATES it becomes the MOUTH.
Phylum Chordata – 4 subphyla • Subphylum Urochordata • Subphylum Cephalochordata • Subphylum Myxini • Subphylum Vertebrata
Subphylum Urochordata • The Tunicates • Also called Sea Squirts • The 4 Chordate characteristics are present in the larval form • The adult looks very different • Larva are free swimming with tails, etc. • Adult is sessile.
Phylum Cephalorchordata • A group called the lancelets • Most common member of this group is amphioxus • Swimmers • Possess all chordate characteristics in adult form
Phylum Myxini • New Phylum • Once thought to be vertebrates, but they do not possess a true backbone – only a true cranium • Hagfish is the only member • Hagfish sliming video • More slime • More
Subphylum Vertebrata • WE are vertebrates; hence humans have studied phylum vertebrata a lot.
When did the 1st vertebrates arise on Earth? • Around 500 million years ago
What were the first vertebrates like? • The first vertebrates were DIFFERENT from vertebrates we know today. • They lacked JAWS. • Think lampreys which are the only vertebrates that remain today who lack jaws. • Jawed vertebrates did not appear until around 400 million year ago • lamprey video • One more
Defining characteristic of a vertebrate? • Backbone • Though others are discussed.
Vertebrates and sex • All vertebrates have separate sexes – male and female
Some terms with regard to reproduction • Oviparous • Egg layer • Young are nourished from yolk inside an egg that is laid outside the mother’s body
Some terms with regard to reproduction • Ovoviparous • Young develop internally, but are nourished with YOLK as though they were inside an egg. • “Live birth”
Some terms with regard to reproduction • Viviparous • Young develop internally • Nourished directly from the mother’s bloodstream • NO yolk • Placenta and umbilical cord involved • icky picture warning…