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Susan's Biology Grade 12 > Vertebrates > Flashcards

Vertebrates Flashcards

(54 cards)

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1
Q

List the four characteristics of animals.

A
  • eukaryotic
  • multicellular
  • heterotrophs that ingest food
  • no cell walls
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2
Q

List four characteristics of organisms in the phylum chordata.

A
  • notochord (may develop into the cartilage discs between vertebrae in vertebrates)
  • dorsal, hollow nerve (may develop into a brain and spinal chord)
  • pharyngeal gill slits (may develop into gills or jaw and ear structures)
  • tail
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3
Q

Name two chordate classes that are not vertebrates.

A
  • tunicates
  • lancelets
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4
Q

Name two unique features of vertebrates.

A

Skull and backbone

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5
Q

Define endoskeleton.

A

A skeleton inside an organism’s body

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6
Q

Name two features common to most vertebrae.

A
  • hinged jaw
  • two sets of paired limbs
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7
Q

How many species are there in each major vertebrae class?

A
  • fish (3 classes): 33,000
  • amphibians: 7,200
  • reptiles: 11,000
  • mammals: 6,400
  • birds: 18,000
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8
Q

List some characteristics of fish.

A
  • two-chambered heart
  • blood is pumped from the heart to gill capillaries to be oxygenated
  • sexual reproduction, usually external
  • give birth to thousands of offspring; often have no parental care
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9
Q

List the three classes of fish.

A
  • agnatha (jawless)
  • chondrichthyes (cartilaginous)
  • osteichthyes (bony)
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10
Q

List some characteristics and examples of fish in class agnatha.

A
  • jawless
  • no scales
  • e.g. lamprey, hagfish
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11
Q

List some characteristics and examples of fish in class chondrichthyes.

A
  • flexible skeleton made of cartilage
  • hinged jaws
  • scales
  • paired fins
  • e.g. sharks, rays
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12
Q

What is the largest fish on earth?

A

Whale shark

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13
Q

How did class osteicthyes get its name?

A

Means “bony fish” because of its rigid skeleton, composed of calcium compounds

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14
Q

What are the two major groups of fish in class osteichthyes?

A
  • lobe-finned
  • ray-finned
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15
Q

Define operculum.

A

A structure in fish that pumps water over their gills

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16
Q

What is the purpose of the swim-bladder structure in fish?

A

To regulate buoyancy

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17
Q

List some examples of ray-finned fish.

A
  • trout
  • bass
  • tuna
  • most osteichthyes (over 20,000)
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18
Q

How did amphibians get their name?

A

Means “double life” because they mainly live on land, but require water for reproduction

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19
Q

List some major characteristics of amphibians.

A
  • tetrapods
  • three-chambered heart
  • lungs (breathe air)
  • smooth, moist skin allows for gas exchange
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20
Q

List some examples of amphibians.

A
  • frogs
  • salamanders
  • caecilians
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21
Q

Name the most toxic animal on earth.

A

Poison dart frog, native to Colombia

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22
Q

When was the smallest vertebrae on earth discovered?

Study These Flashcards
A

2009 (a frog)

23
Q

List some major characteristics of reptiles.

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A
  • live and reproduce on land
  • lay eggs
  • dry, scaly, waterproof skin
  • three-chambered heart
  • internal fertilization
24
Q

Define amniote eggs.

Study These Flashcards
A

Eggs with a waterproof shell, in which the embryo develops

25
What is the largest snake in the world?
Green anaconda
26
What is the most venomous snake in the world?
Inland Taipan, native to Australia
27
Compare and contrast alligators and crocodiles.
Both have a four-chambered heart Alligators: - short, wide, U-shaped heads - live mostly in freshwater - native to the US and China Crocodiles: - more aggressive - live in salt water - native all over the world
28
List some major characteristics of Class Aves.
- endothermic (warm-blooded) - adapted to flight - four-chambered heart
29
Define endothermic.
When organisms metabolically maintain a constant internal body temperature
30
Name three adaptations that enable birds to fly.
- hollow bones - feathers - wing shape for lift
31
What is the fastest animal on earth?
Peregrine falcon
32
How long does it take for a baby chick to hatch?
21 days
33
Name two parts of a bird's anatomy that are uniquely adapted to its way of life.
- beak shape (herbivore/carnivore) - feet (talons/webbed)
34
List two major characteristics of Class Mammalia.
- have hair or fur - produce milk
35
What is the function of mammary glands?
To produce milk for the nourishment of offspring
36
List the three sub-classes of mammals.
- monotremes - marsupials - placentals
37
Briefly describe the parental care of mammals.
Mammals have fewer offspring, but care for them longer and with more dedication
38
Define monotreme and provide examples.
An egg-laying mammal - platypus - echidna
39
Define marsupial and provide examples.
A mammal that gives birth to premature young and carries them in a pouch while they develop - opossum - kangaroo - wallaby
40
Which sub-class includes most mammals?
Placentals
41
Briefly describe the development of placental mammals.
- develop completely inside the mother - nourished through the placenta - protected by a membrane called the amnion, which contains amniotic fluid
42
What is the largest animal on earth?
Blue whale: over 200 tons and 30 meters
43
List some mammals in the order cetacea.
Dolphin, humpback whale
44
List some mammals in the order rodentia.
Squirrels, mice, beavers
45
List some mammals in the order chiroptera.
Bats (only flying mammal)
46
List some mammals in the order carnivora.
Tigers, wolves, polar bears
47
List some mammals in the order eulipotyphla.
Moles, hedgehogs, shrews
48
List some mammals in the order proboscidea.
African and Asian elephants
49
List some mammals in the order artiodactyla.
Even-toed mammals; camel, cow, reindeer
50
List some mammals in the order perissodactyla.
Odd-toed mammals; horses, rhinos, zebras
51
List some mammals in the order primates.
Lemurs, gorillas, chimpanzees
52
List the differences between apes and monkeys.
Apes have no tails, and are larger and more intelligent than monkeys
53
What is the difference between Old World and New World monkeys?
Old World monkeys have no tails, or do not use it; New World monkeys have long, strong tails that they use as an extra appendage
54
What is the full classification of a human being?
Kingdom: animalia Phylum: chordata Class: mammalia Order: primates Family: hominidae Genus: homo Species: sapiens

Susan's Biology Grade 12 (8 decks)

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