Planet Earth has a great biological diversity, which translates into a large number of living beings that populate different ecosystems and that they have genetic differences, which allows very varied life forms. In order to better study and understand animals, humans have developed different forms of classification, for example based on food, forms of reproduction or the structure. The classification of animals according to their structure separates those that have a backbone from those that do not.
In this article on our site we will explain in detail what vertebrate animals are, what invertebrate animals are and we will offer you a list with examples of vertebrate and invertebrate animalsso you can explain the differences between vertebrate and invertebrate animals for primary school children, for example. Do you want to know everything about their differences or know some curiosities? Take note!
What are vertebrate animals?
The vertebrate animals or " Vertebrata " are a diverse group of animals that possess a backbone or backbone, composed of vertebrae. The skeleton of vertebrate animals can be bony or cartilaginous and thanks to its ease of fossilization it has been key to being able to study the evolution of animals on planet Earth.
The vertebrae are highly specialized bones that together form the spinal column. The function of the spinal column is to protect and support the spinal cord, as well as connect it to the nervous system. Vertebrate animals are characterized by having bilateral symmetry and a skull that protects the brain.
The body of vertebrate animals is divided into three zones: head, trunk and limbs, in addition, some species also have a tail. Another characteristic of vertebrate animals to highlight is sexual differentiation, which in some cases may be more evident than in others. In total, it is estimated that there are more than 62,000 species of vertebrate animals.
Characteristics of vertebrate animals - for kids
In summary, we could say that the characteristics of vertebrate animals are as follows:
- They have a backbone or backbone.
- They have a bony or cartilaginous skeleton.
- They have a skull.
- Its body is divided into 3: head, trunk and limbs.
- They have sexual dimorphism.
Examples of vertebrate animals
But what are vertebrate animals? Before showing you some examples, you should know that vertebrate animals are classified into 5 main groups: mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles. What else can we explain about vertebrate animals for children? There are other classifications, such as warm-blooded (birds and mammals) or cold-blooded (reptiles, amphibians and fish).
Next, we will show you a list with names and examples of vertebrate animals:
- Dog.
- Kangaroo.
- Gorilla.
- Bow.
- Camel.
- Dromedary.
- Lion.
- Panther.
- Elephant.
- Tiger.
- Shark.
- Hippo.
- Rhinoceros.
- Giraffe.
- Cat.
- Parrot.
- Cow.
- Horse.
- Sheep.
- Iguana.
- Rabbit.
- Pony.
- Chinchilla.
- Rat.
- Mouse.
- Canary.
- Goldfinch.
- Lynx.
- Frog.
- Clownfish.
What are invertebrate animals?
The invertebrate animals or " Invertebrata " are a group of animals that are characterized by not having vertebrae, spinal column, or articulated internal skeleton. They are usually small in size and most have an external skeleton that protects them, known as exoskeleton, which can be in the form of a shell or carapace, among others.
As a curiosity we should add that invertebrate animals represent 95% of all species of animals on planet Earth and that, unlike of vertebrate animals, they do not have the ability to colonize or adapt.
Characteristics of invertebrate animals - for kids
In summary, the main characteristics of invertebrate animals are:
- They don't have vertebrae.
- Your skeleton is external.
- Its skeleton is not bony, rather it is like a shell or carapace.
Examples of invertebrate animals
What else can we add about invertebrate animals? We can highlight that there are 6 main groups: arthropods, molluscs, worms (flatworms, nematodes and annelids), echinoderms (sea urchins and starfish), cnidarians (jellyfish and corals) and porifera (better known as sponges).
Next, we will show you a list with examples and names of more than 10 invertebrate animals:
- Octopus.
- Mosquito.
- Bee.
- Ant.
- Spider.
- Jellyfish.
- Sea urchin.
- Snail.
- Coral.
- Ground Slug.
- Oyster.
- Mussel.
- Giant squid.
- Scorpion.
- Scorpion.
- Dragon-fly.
- praying mantis.
- Crab.
- Lobster.
- Crickets.
- Grasshopper.
- Fly.
- Butterfly.
- Stick insect.