Invertebrate and Vertebrate Biology Review

These 80 flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to invertebrate and vertebrate biology, useful for exam preparation.

Cambrian explosion

A rapid evolutionary event approximately 538.8 to 541 million years ago that led to the emergence of many animal groups.

Porifera

A phylum comprising sponges, known for their simple body structure without true tissues.

Cnidaria

A phylum containing animals such as jellyfish and corals, characterized by cnidocytes.

Arthropods

Invertebrates with segmented bodies, jointed appendages, and exoskeletons made of chitin.

Echinodermata

A phylum of marine animals including sea stars and sea urchins with pentaradial symmetry.

Lophotrochozoa

A clade of protostomes which includes mollusks and annelids.

Mollusca

A diverse phylum that includes snails, octopuses, and clams.

Bivalvia

A class of mollusks that have two hinged shells, such as clams.

Cephalopoda

A class of mollusks that includes squids and octopuses, known for their advanced nervous systems.

Hexapoda

The class to which insects belong; characterized by having six legs.

Chondrichthyes

A class of jawed vertebrates with cartilaginous skeletons, including sharks and rays.

Amniotic egg

An egg that has a protective shell and membranes, enabling reproduction on land.

Viviparity

A reproductive strategy where embryos develop inside the female, resulting in live birth.

Endothermy

The ability of an organism to regulate its body temperature internally.

Monotremes

Egg-laying mammals, such as the platypus.

Marsupials

Mammals that give birth to premature young, which typically develop in pouches.

Eutherians

Also known as placental mammals, they nourish their young through a placenta.

Senescence

The gradual deterioration of functional characteristics and an increase in mortality risk with age.

Antagonistic pleiotropy

A genetic situation where a single gene affects multiple traits, some beneficial and some detrimental.

Parental care

Behavior exhibited by parents that enhances the survival and reproductive success of their offspring.

Chick gape color

The color of a young bird's mouth, which can signal health and influence feeding behavior.

Brood parasitism

A reproductive strategy where a species lays eggs in the nests of other species, like cuckoo birds.

INTERsexual selection

A form of sexual selection where one sex chooses mates based on certain traits.

INTRAsexual selection

A form of sexual selection where individuals compete with each other for access to mates.

Fisher's runaway selection model

A theory suggesting that a female's preference for certain traits can lead to exaggerated traits in males.

Zahavi's handicap principle

The idea that certain traits serve as honest signals of fitness to potential mates.

Beneficial male suicide

In certain species, male self-sacrifice can increase reproductive success by ensuring paternity.

Evolutionary consequences of bipedalism

Includes freeing hands for tool use and efficient long-distance movement.

Obstetrical Dilemma

The trade-off faced by humans between brain size and pelvic structure for childbirth.

Cambrian explosion significance

Represents a rapid diversification of life forms and the establishment of major animal groups.

Genetic tools in evolution

Hox genes play a key role in the development of complex body plans and organs.

Paleolithic Revolution

A significant change in human society characterized by the development of agriculture and settled living.

Cuckoo eggs mimicry

Cuckoo birds evolve egg appearances that mimic their host species to avoid rejection.

Chondrichthyes significance

This group includes sharks and rays, crucial for their ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems.

Bipedalism implications

Allowed humans to carry objects and navigate land more efficiently.

Social organization in chimpanzees vs bonobos

Chimpanzees are patriarchal, whereas bonobos are matriarchal.

Extreme age effects on reproduction

Older female mammals may limit reproduction to increase survival of existing offspring.

Amphibians

A class of animals capable of living both in water and on land at different life stages.

Reproductive strategies

Different methods organisms use to maximize reproductive success depending on environmental conditions.

Pelvic evolution in humans

Adaptations allowing for bipedal locomotion but complicate childbirth.

Notochord

A flexible structure present in chordates that provides support and develops into the spine.