Biology: Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Classifying animals by backbone and body features
Biology: Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Classifying animals by backbone and body features
Biology - Grade 4-5
- 1
What is the main difference between a vertebrate and an invertebrate?
Look for whether the animal has a spine inside its body.
A vertebrate is an animal with a backbone. An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. - 2
Classify each animal as a vertebrate or invertebrate: frog, butterfly, salmon, jellyfish, dog.
The frog, salmon, and dog are vertebrates because they have backbones. The butterfly and jellyfish are invertebrates because they do not have backbones. - 3
A scientist finds an animal with feathers, a beak, wings, and a backbone. Is this animal a vertebrate or an invertebrate? Explain.
All birds have backbones.
This animal is a vertebrate because it has a backbone. Its feathers, beak, and wings also show that it is most likely a bird. - 4
Name the five main groups of vertebrates.
The five main groups of vertebrates are mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. - 5
A crab has a hard outer shell, jointed legs, and no backbone. Is it a vertebrate or an invertebrate? What animal group does it belong to?
Arthropods include insects, spiders, crabs, and shrimp.
A crab is an invertebrate because it has no backbone. It belongs to a group of animals called arthropods. - 6
Sort these animals into two groups: snake, earthworm, owl, octopus, horse, ant.
The vertebrates are snake, owl, and horse because they have backbones. The invertebrates are earthworm, octopus, and ant because they do not have backbones. - 7
A dolphin lives in the ocean and has fins, but it breathes air and feeds milk to its young. Is a dolphin a fish or a mammal? Explain.
Do not classify an animal only by where it lives.
A dolphin is a mammal. It breathes air, feeds milk to its young, and has a backbone. - 8
Look at an insect body plan. What three body parts do most adult insects have?
Most adult insects have a head, thorax, and abdomen. They also usually have six legs. - 9
Explain why a worm is not classified as a vertebrate.
A soft body alone does not make an animal a vertebrate.
A worm is not a vertebrate because it does not have a backbone or spine inside its body. - 10
A turtle has dry scaly skin, lays eggs on land, and has a backbone. Which vertebrate group does it belong to?
A turtle belongs to the reptile group. Reptiles have backbones, and many have dry scaly skin and lay eggs on land. - 11
Choose the animal that does not belong in this vertebrate group: robin, eagle, penguin, spider. Explain your choice.
Birds have feathers and backbones.
The spider does not belong because it is an invertebrate. The robin, eagle, and penguin are birds, and birds are vertebrates. - 12
Give two examples of invertebrates that live in water.
Two examples of invertebrates that live in water are jellyfish and shrimp. Other correct examples include crab, clam, sea star, and octopus. - 13
A salamander begins life in water, later lives on land and in wet places, has moist skin, and has a backbone. Which vertebrate group does it belong to?
Frogs and salamanders are examples from the same vertebrate group.
A salamander belongs to the amphibian group. Amphibians have backbones, often have moist skin, and many begin life in water. - 14
Why can a sea star be confusing to classify, and why is it an invertebrate?
Do not let the word star make you think it is not an animal.
A sea star can be confusing because it has a firm body and lives like an animal many students recognize. It is an invertebrate because it does not have a backbone. - 15
Create a classification rule that would help a younger student decide if an unknown animal is a vertebrate or an invertebrate.
A good rule is to ask whether the animal has a backbone. If it has a backbone, it is a vertebrate. If it does not have a backbone, it is an invertebrate.