Classifying the Classes of Phylum Chordata and the 4 B's

A comprehensive vocabulary review of the 5 classes of Phylum Chordata and their classification using the 4 B's (Birth, Blood, Breathing, and Body Covering).

Kingdom Animalia

The taxonomic kingdom in the lesson hierarchy that sits directly above Phylum Chordata.

Phylum Chordata

The taxonomic phylum under Kingdom Animalia divided into five major classes.

The 4 B's

The four criteria used to classify the classes of chordates: Birth, Blood, Breathing, and Body Covering.

Birth

One of the 4 B's referring to the reproductive method of a class, such as live young or eggs (hard or soft).

Blood

One of the 4 B's referring to whether an animal class is warm-blooded or cold-blooded.

Breathing

One of the 4 B's referring to the respiratory organs used by an organism, such as lungs or gills.

Body Covering

One of the 4 B's referring to the outer covering of an animal, such as hair, feathers, scales, or scaleless skin.

Pisces

The scientific name for the Chordata class commonly known as Fish.

Fish

The common name for the Chordata class scientifically named Pisces.

Amphibia

The scientific name for the Chordata class commonly known as Amphibians.

Amphibians

The common name for the Chordata class scientifically named Amphibia.

Reptilia

The scientific name for the Chordata class commonly known as Reptiles.

Reptiles

The common name for the Chordata class scientifically named Reptilia.

Aves

The scientific name for the Chordata class commonly known as Birds.

Birds

The common name for the Chordata class scientifically named Aves.

Mammalia

The scientific name for the Chordata class commonly known as Mammals.

Mammals

The common name for the Chordata class scientifically named Mammalia.

Mammals: Birth

Characterized by giving birth to live young.

Mammals: Blood

Characterized as warm-blooded.

Mammals: Body Covering

Characterized by having a body covering of hair.

Mammals: Breathing

Characterized by breathing using lungs.

Birds: Birth

Characterized by laying hard eggs.

Birds: Blood

Characterized as warm-blooded.

Birds: Body Covering

Characterized by having a body covering of feathers.

Birds: Breathing

Characterized by breathing using lungs.

Fish: Birth

Characterized by laying soft eggs.

Fish: Blood

Characterized as cold-blooded.

Fish: Body Covering

Characterized by having a body covering of scales.

Fish: Breathing

Characterized by breathing using gills.

Amphibians: Birth

Characterized by laying soft eggs.

Amphibians: Blood

Characterized as cold-blooded.

Amphibians: Body Covering

Characterized by having a scaleless body covering.

Amphibians: Breathing

Characterized by breathing via gills and lungs.

Reptiles: Birth

Characterized by laying hard eggs.

Reptiles: Blood

Characterized as cold-blooded.

Reptiles: Body Covering

Characterized by having dry/scales as a body covering.

Reptiles: Breathing

Characterized by breathing using lungs.

Live Birth

The birth characteristic unique to Mammals among the five Chordata classes in the table.

Eggs (hard)

The birth type shared by the classes Birds and Reptiles.

Eggs (soft)

The birth type shared by the classes Fish and Amphibians.

Warm Blood

The blood temperature characteristic shared by Mammals and Birds.

Cold Blood

The blood temperature characteristic shared by Fish, Amphibians, and Reptiles.

Lungs

The respiratory organ utilized by Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, and Amphibians.

Gills

The respiratory structures utilized for breathing by Fish and Amphibians.

Hair

The body covering type exclusive to Mammals in the classification table.

Feathers

The body covering type exclusive to Birds in the classification table.

Scales

The body covering characteristic of Fish in the classification table.

Scaleless

The body covering characteristic of Amphibians in the classification table.

Dry/scales

The body covering characteristic of Reptiles in the classification table.

Five Classes of Phylum Chordata

The five vertebrate groups classified in the lesson: Pisces (Fish), Amphibia (Amphibians), Reptilia (Reptiles), Aves (Birds), and Mammalia (Mammals).