Zoology- vertebrates

What superphylum do vertebrates belong to?

Deuterostomia

What are the germ layers of vertebrates?

Triploblastic eucoelomates

What type of digestive system do vertebrates have?

Complete digestive system

What organ system do vertebrates use to remove metabolic waste?

Kidneys

What type of circulatory system do vertebrates possess?

Closed system with heart

What is the structure of the nervous system in vertebrates?

Brain with central nervous system

What are the five defining characteristics of all vertebrates?

Notochord, hollow dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, post-anal tail, endostyle/thyroid gland

What is the notochord?

A flexible but stiff rod structure derived from mesoderm tissue that provides support and muscle attachment.

What is the hollow dorsal nerve cord?

A hollow tube derived from ectoderm that runs from anterior to posterior and develops into the brain and spinal cord.

What are pharyngeal slits and their function in vertebrates?

Structures that allow water to enter the mouth and exit through slits, originally for filter feeding.

What is the purpose of the post-anal tail in vertebrates?

Mainly for locomotion, with skeletal and muscular components.

What is the endostyle and its significance?

Mucus-producing tissue in the pharynx that produces substances similar to thyroid hormones, important in iodine metabolism.

Which two groups are exceptions to the subphylum Vertebrata?

Hemichordates and Urochordata (tunicates)

What defines the subphylum Vertebrata?

The presence of a cranium and vertebral column.

What are Agnathostomes?

Jawless vertebrates, including classes Myxini and Petromyzontidae.

What are Gnathostomes?

Jawed vertebrates that include fishes and tetrapods.

What adaptations do amniotes have?

Eggs with extraembryonic membranes adapted for terrestrial life.

What are the two classes of Agnathostomes?

Myxini (hagfish) and Petromyzontidae (lamprey).

How do Myxini (hagfish) feed?

As scavengers, rasping pieces of food from dead animals.

What is unique about Petromyzontidae (lamprey) feeding?

They are ectoparasites that use a suction mouth with a rasping tongue.