Content Outline for Teaching - Potosi School District - Home

18
Content Outline
for Teaching
Vertebrate Animals
Underlined words and
phrases are to be filled
in by students on the
Note-taking Worksheet.
Section 1
Chordate animals
A. Chordate—animal with a notochord, a nerve cord, and pharyngeal pouches
sometime during its development
1. Internal system of bones called an endoskeleton
2. Ectotherms—cold-blooded animals whose body temperature changes as their
surrounding temperature changes
3. Endotherms—warm-blooded animals whose body temperature does not
change with changes in their surroundings
B. Fish—ectotherms living in water
1. Gills that exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen
2. Fins that help steer, balance, and move
3. Scales that cover and protect skin
C. Three groups of fish
1. Bony—have a skeleton made of bone; 95% of all fish
a. Swim bladder—air sac that helps control swimming depth
b. External fertilization in reproduction
2. Jawless fish—long, tube-like body without scales; a cartilage skeleton; mouth
without a jaw; very few species
3. Cartilaginous fish—cartilage skeletons, movable jaws, rough scales, sharp
teeth, usually predators; sharks in this group
Discussion Question
What do all fish have? Gills; most also have fins and scales
Vertebrate Animals 59