Classifying Animals
LESSON OBJECTIVE
Learn how to find unique traits
that set animals apart from
others
All animals can be divided
into two main groups,
vertebrates and
invertebrates.
VERTEBRATE INVERTEBRATE
A vertebrate is An invertebrate is
an animal that an animal that does
has a spine, or not have a spine.
backbone.
INVERTEBRATES
Invertebrates are animals that do not have a backbone or spinal column.
Examples of invertebrates include insects, spiders, worms, and snails.
Invertebrates make up the majority of animal species on Earth.
Invertebrates serve as food sources for many larger animals.
VERTEBRATE
Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone or spinal column.
Examples of vertebrates include mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and
amphibians.
Vertebrates are more complex with more specialized organ systems and
larger brains.
DID YOU KNOW SCIENTISTS
CLASSIFY VERTEBRATES INTO
EVEN MORE GROUPS?
VERTEBRATE CLASSIFICATION
Mammals Reptiles Fish
Birds Amphibians
MAMMALS
Warm-blooded and give birth to their young.
Nurse their young with milk produced by mammary glands
Have hair or fur for insulation and protection
REPTILES
They are cold-blooded animals.
Reptiles are known for their unique scales or skin textures.
Reptiles give birth through either shelled eggs or live young.
FISH
They are cold-blooded.
The have scales, fins and gills.
They reproduce in water, either by laying eggs or giving birth.
BIRDS
They are warm-blooded.
They have feathers.
They laying eggs on land.
AMPHIBIANS
They are cold-blooded.
They have Thin moist skin.
They laying jelly like egg in water.
REMEMBER!
Mammals: Mammals are warm-blooded, have fur or hair, and nurse their young with milk. They
are the most diverse group of vertebrates and include animals like dogs, cats, whales, and
humans.
Reptiles: This group includes animals with dry, scaly skin that lay eggs on land. They are cold-
blooded and include animals like snakes, lizards, and turtles.
Fish: This group includes animals that live in water, breathe through gills, and have scales.
Examples include salmon, tuna, and sharks.
Birds: Birds have feathers, beaks, and lay eggs. They are warm-blooded and have a unique
skeletal structure that allows them to fly. Examples include eagles, penguins, and parrots.
Amphibians: These animals start life in water and then move to land as they mature. They have
moist skin and lay their eggs in water. Examples include frogs, toads, and salamanders.
