Animal Traits Mrs. Losiewicz 5th Grade

Animals that have backbones Vertebrates Fish Amphibians Reptiles Birds Mammals Animals that have backbones

Facts about Vertebrates Fish live their whole life in water. They are covered by scales, and they have gills to take in oxygen directly from the water. Amphibians live part of their life in water and part on land, but they need water to reproduce. Reptiles can reproduce on land. They have dry, thick skin covered with scales. They breathe with lungs.

More Facts About Vertebrates Birds are different from all other vertebrates because they have feathers and wings. They also have hollow bones and air sacs that help them to fly. Mammals drink milk from their mothers’ bodies. Humans are mammals.

Invertebrates Sponge Sea Anemones and Jellyfish Flatworm and Planarian Earthworm Octopus, Snails, Clams Grasshoppers, Lobsters, and Spiders Starfish

Facts About Invertebrates Sponges have lots of holes in it, called pores. They have different kinds of cells that do different jobs. They live in water and have no organs. Sea Anemone and Jellyfish do not have heads or tails. They have soft bodies and tentacles. They have cells that make poison. Flatworms and Planarian have heads and tails. They do have organs. Some live in water and some live inside other animals. Earthworms are segmented and have eyes and other special organs, such as jaws or gills. They have circulatory, digestive, and nervous systems.

More Facts About Invertebrates Octopus, snails, and clams are known as mollusks. They have a shell and gills. They have a circulatory system and jaws for capturing food. Grasshoppers, lobsters, and spiders have a tough outer skeleton and jointed legs. They have a body made up of two, three, or more sections. Starfish have a skeleton inside their bodies. Most have spiny skin and tubelike feet with suction cups.

References Macmillian McGraw-Hill Science Book