1. Vertebrates
By: Usama Ahmad

2. What are vertebrates?
Vertebrates are any animals that have a backbone. The five categories of vertebrates are:
Fishes (trout, halibut)
Amphibians (frog, salamander)
Reptiles (crocodile, snake)
Birds (sparrow, pigeon)
Mammals (human, horse)

3. Fishes Fish have: Slimy, bony scales (for protection)
Gills (for breathing)
Fins (for swimming)
Thousands of eggs
Fish are also ectothermic (cold-blooded), which means that they depend on the outside temperature for their body temperature.

4. Amphibians Amphibians have: Slimy skin Fish tails when young
(for swimming)
Four legs when adult
(for moving)
Hundreds of eggs
Amphibians, like fish, are cold-blooded. Most amphibians go through metamorphosis, where they develop lungs and legs.

5. Reptiles Reptiles have: Dry, leathery scales Small brains Lots of eggs
Reptiles are also amniotes, meaning that their eggs have multiple protective layers.

6. Birds Birds have: Two wings to fly Feathers No teeth (beaks instead)
A dozen or so eggs
Birds are the only category of vertebrates who have feathers instead of hair or scales.

7. Mammals Mammals have: Dry hair (for warmth) Four limbs
Don’t lay eggs, live birth
Milk provided for young
Mammals are the only group of vertebrates with REAL hair. Our hair is dead cords of keratin, which is what our nails are made of.

8. Some strange animals …
In the Amazon Rainforest, there is a very small fish called a “toothpick fish” because of its small and slender shape. It lives very deep in the river and finds its victims by traces of fish pee and ammonia. Then, when the victim opens its gills to breath, it rushes in and extends sharp spines to stay in place. Then, it swells up with the hosts blood and leaves.

9. More strange animals …
In China, there is an amphibian known as the “Chinese Giant Salamander”, a nocturnal animal that eats fish and crabs among other things They have special sensors in their head which can detect the tiniest motion made by prey. These sensors make up for the salamanders poor vision.

10. Even more …
The hummingbird is the only bird that can fly upside-down, backwards, forwards, hover and sideways! They are the smallest bird and the smallest animal with a backbone. They weigh from 2 to 20 grams. Their heart can beat up to 1,260 times a second!

11. Bibliography Pictures:
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12. Bibliography Pictures:
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