Name Class Date
Vertebrate Digestive Systems
Vertebrates have digestive systems adapted for the foods they eat. Most vertebrates, however, have some similar digestive organs.
Look at the diagram of the salamander. Find the esophagus, liver, stomach, and intestine. Then color the other diagrams according to the prompts below.
• Color the esophagus yellow.
• Color the liver orange.
• Color the intestine red.
Liver
Crop
Stomach
Stomach
Stomach
Gizzard
Intestine
Salamander
Pigeon
Cow
Answer the questions.
1. Cows are herbivores. What might the bacteria in the intestines
of cows do? Circle the correct answer.
break down plant tissue produce meat-digesting enzymes
2. How might the cow’s intestines be different if a cow were
a carnivore?
3. Why does the pigeon need a crop and gizzard?
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Name Class Date
Respiratory Systems of Land Vertebrates
Land vertebrates use lungs to breathe. In most land vertebrates, air moves in and out through the same passageways, including the nostrils, mouth, throat, and trachea.
Trachea
Salamander
Lizard
Trachea
Lung
Pigeon
Primate
Lung
Use the diagrams to answer the questions.
1. How are salamander and lizard lungs different?
2. In mammalian lungs, gas exchange takes place in which
structures? Circle the correct answer.
lungs gills
3. What is the function of air sacs in the pigeon?
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135
Name Class Date
Vertebrate Circulatory Systems
Vertebrates that use gills have single-loop circulatory systems. Vertebrates that use lungs have double-loop circulatory systems. In a single-loop system, the heart pumps blood to the gills or lungs. In double-loop systems, blood returns to the heart and is then pumped to the body
Draw arrows showing the path of blood through the circulatory systems of the animals shown.
Fish
Amphibian
Mammal
Use the diagrams to answer the question.
1. Which vertebrate shown has the simplest circulatory system?
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136
Name Class Date
Vertebrate Brains
Vertebrates have complex brains made up of several parts. Each part has a different function. For example, the medulla oblongata controls the functioning of many internal organs.
Look at the diagrams of the bony fish and amphibian brains. Then color the remaining diagrams according to the prompts below.
• Color the olfactory bulb purple.
• Color the optic lobe blue.
• Color the medulla oblongata yellow.
• Color the cerebellum red.
• Color the cerebrum orange.
Bony Fish
Amphibian
Reptile
Bird
Mammal
Use the diagrams to answer the question.
1. Which vertebrate has the most complex cerebrum?
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