Vertebrates: Paedophryne Amauensis

Vertebrates /ˈvɜːrtɪbrɪts/ comprise all species of animals within the subphylum Vertebrata /-
eɪ/ (chordates with backbones). Vertebrates represent the overwhelming majority of the phylum Chordata, with currently
about 69,276 species described.[4] Vertebrates include such groups as the following:
 jawless fishes
 jawed vertebrates, which include the cartilaginous fishes (sharks, rays, and ratfish)
 tetrapods, which include amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
 bony fishes
Extant vertebrates range in size from the frog species Paedophryne amauensis, at as little as 7.7 mm (0.30 in), to
the blue whale, at up to 33 m (108 ft). Vertebrates make up less than five percent of all described animal species; the
rest are invertebrates, which lack vertebral columns.
The vertebrates traditionally include the hagfish, which do not have proper vertebrae due to their loss in
evolution,[5] though their closest living relatives, the lampreys, do.[6] Hagfish do, however, possess a cranium. For this
reason, the vertebrate subphylum is sometimes referred to as "Craniata" when discussing morphology.
Molecular analysis since 1992 has suggested that hagfish are most closely related to lampreys,[7] and so also are
vertebrates in a monophyletic sense. Others consider them a sister group of vertebrates in the common taxon of
craniata.
Invertebrate
Invertebrate Definition
Invertebrates are animals that don’t have a backbone. The vertebral column is another name for the backbone.
Over 90% of all species on Earth are invertebrates, and invertebrate species have been found in the fossil record as
far back as 600 million years ago. Molecular biology studies suggest that all invertebrates evolved from a single
invertebrate group.
Characteristics of Invertebrates
In addition to not having a backbone, invertebrates have soft bodies because they don’t have an
internal skeleton (endoskeleton) for support. Instead, many have structures on the outside (exoskeleton) that
provide support and protection. In addition, invertebrates are cold-blooded, meaning they can’t regulate their
body temperature, so it changes depending on the environment.
Invertebrates are incredibly diverse. They live in fresh water, salt water, on land and as parasites in other animals.
There are invertebrates that are carnivorous (meat eaters), herbivores (plant eaters) and omnivores (meat and
plant eaters). There are even some invertebrate species that grow bacteria and cells inside their bodies that make
their food. Some invertebrates stay in one spot, while others fly, swim, float, crawl and burrow.
Types of Invertebrates
Eighty-five percent of invertebrates – some 923,000 species – are arthropods. Mollusks have approximately
100,000 distinct species. Some of the most common types of invertebrates are:
 protozoans – single-celled organisms such as amoebas and paramecia

 annelids – earthworms, leeches
 echinoderms – starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers
 mollusks – snails, octopi, squid, snails, clams
 arthropods – insects, spiders, crustaceans such as shrimp, crabs, lobsters

Example of Invertebrate Animals
Amoebas
Amoebas are single-celled organisms that are part of the simplest group of invertebrates. They have a cell
membrane, DNA, a nucleus and organelles just like most cells in the human body. The difference is that amoebas
can move using their pseudopodia, or “false feet.” They also use pseudopodia to catch and eat food. Beneficial
amoebas are found in soil where they help regulate bacterial populations and recycle nutrients. There are several
species of ameba that cause disease, including Entameba hystolitica, which causes diarrhea.
The image above shows what an ameba looks like under a microscope.
Earthworms
Earthworms, also called angleworms, are very important in the world because their burrowing turns over and
aerates the soil, provides soil drainage and mixes in organic material. They are one of more than 1,800 species of
worms that live on land. Earthworms eat pieces of plants and animals in the soil. The bodies of worms are divided
into segments; in certain species, some of the organs are duplicated in each segment. Earthworms can detect light
and vibrations, but they are blind and cannot hear. Birds and other animals use earthworms as a food source.
Starfish
Starfish are also called sea stars because of the arms or “rays” they have sticking out of their bodies. Some starfish
live deep in the oceans, while others live on the shore. There are over 1,600 species of starfish. Most have five
arms, but one species is known to have 24 arms. Starfish have tube feet that work with hydraulic pressure to help
them move. Snails, mussels and clams are common foods for starfish, which use their arms to guide food particles
from the water into their mouths. These organisms have the unique ability to lose and regrow their arms.
The image above shows a starfish.
Squids
Squids are decapods, meaning they have 10 arms or tentacles. They are different from octopuses, which have
eight arms. Each tentacle has four rows of suckers that help them catch prey (usually fish) and attach themselves
to surfaces. Squids live in the ocean, both near the shore and in the ocean depths. Their length ranges from about
3/4 of an inch to more than 65 feet. Some squids are luminous, which means they have light organs in
their skin that let them change color to camouflage themselves, attract prey and communicate with other squids.
Humans, some fishes and sperm whales eat squid.
The image above shows a reef squid.
Spiders
Spiders make their home on every continent except Antarctica. They are not insects because they have eight legs
(insects have six legs). Experts think there are about 170,000 species of spiders in the world, but only around
39,000 are described and named. Some spiders live on land and others live in the water. The leg span of species
ranges from 0.02 of an inch to 10 inches. Most spiders have eight eyes, and can sense light and dark. They also are
very sensitive to vibration, which comes in handy when prey gets stuck in their web. Some spiders inject poison
into their prey to kill it, while others prefer to wrap up their live catch and save it for later. Spiders can only ingest
liquids; they bite holes in their prey and inject enzymes that dissolve the tissues so they can be sucked out

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Vertebrates /ˈvɜːrtɪbrɪts/ comprise all species of animals within the subphylum Vertebrata /-

 protozoans – single-celled organisms such as amoebas and paramecia

The image above shows a starfish.

The image above shows a reef squid.

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