Vertebrate Biodiversity: Lecture 1 Summary

This set of flashcards contains key terms and definitions pertaining to vertebrate biodiversity and the evolution of chordates as discussed in the lecture.

Vertebrate

An animal that has a backbone or spinal column.

Amniotes

A group of tetrapod animals that lay eggs containing amniotic fluid or retain the fertilized egg within the mother.

Placoderms

Early jawed fish that existed during the Devonian period.

Ostracoderms

Extinct group of jawless fish with bony armor.

Tetrapods

Four-limbed vertebrates which include amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Lancelets

Small, simple chordates that retain characteristics of the phylum throughout their life.

Urochordata

Subphylum that includes tunicates and their larval forms, which have characteristics of chordates.

Craniates

Animals with a braincase or skull, including all vertebrates.

Hagfish

Jawless fish belonging to the class Myxini, known for their slime production.

Lampreys

Jawless fish belonging to the class Petromyzontida, known for their parasitic behavior.

Chondrichthyes

Class of animals that includes sharks and rays, characterized by cartilaginous skeletons.

Gnathostomes

Jawed vertebrates; a superclass including all vertebrates with jaws.

Amphibia

Class of vertebrates that includes frogs, toads, and salamanders; key for their dual life (aquatic & terrestrial).

Synapsids

Group of animals that includes mammals and their extinct relatives.

Adaptations

Characteristics that enhance the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

Amniotic egg

A key innovation of amniotes allowing for reproduction away from water by preventing desiccation.

Echinodermata

Phylum including sea stars and sea urchins, acknowledged as a sister group to chordates.

Phylogenetic tree

A branching diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological species.