Comparison of Vertebrates

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Station 1: Comparing Circulatory Systems

A. List the number of heart chambers for each vertebrate class.

Fish ______Amphibian ______Reptile ______Bird ______Mammal ______

B. Determine whether the vertebrate class has a single loop or double loop circulatory system.

Fish ______Amphibian ______Reptile ______Bird ______Mammal ______

C. What is the benefit of a vertebrate having a heart with four chambers and a double loop circulatory system?

______

Station 2: Comparing a Fish (Perch) and Amphibian (Frog) Skeleton

A. Provide 3 similarities & 3 differences between the skeletons (Focus on limbs, backbone skull)

SimilaritiesDifferences

  1. 1.
  1. 2.
  1. 3.

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Station 3: Comparing a Lizard, Snake and Bird (Chicken) Skeleton

A. Provide 3 similarities & 3 differences between the skeletons (Focus on limbs, backbone skull)

SimilaritiesDifferences

1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

______

Station 4: Comparing a Dog, Human and Rat Skeleton

A. Provide 3 similarities & 3 differences between the skeletons (Focus on limbs, backbone & skull)

SimilaritiesDifferences

1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

______

Station 5: Comparing the Internal Anatomy of a Turtle, Pigeon and Pig (Fetal)

Observe the following organs in each organism: heart; lungs; liver; stomach; intestines

A. How are the positions of the organs similar and different, provide 3 of each.

SimilaritiesDifferences

1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

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Station 6: Embryo Development (Eggs)

A. Which vertebrate types have hard shell eggs?

B. Which vertebrate types have jelly-like eggs?

C. What environments are each egg type found in?

D. What advantages do hard-shell eggs have over jelly-like eggs? Provide two.

1.

2.

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Station 7: Tour of the Vertebrates

Use Biologytextbook to match the “characteristics” with the vertebrate group.

Fish (pg. 558) Amphibian (pg. 563) Reptile (pg. 576) Bird (pg. 587) Mammal (pg. 599)

Characteristics

  1. highly developed brains ______
  2. contains a “slimy” coat to reduce water friction______
  3. most species are small in size______
  4. continues to grow throughout their lives______
  5. has a keeled sternum where powerful muscles attach______
  6. very high body temperatures______
  7. contains moist, hairless, scaleless skin______
  8. lays leathery shelled eggs______
  9. endotherms, able to maintain a constant body temperature______
  10. gas exchange can occur through their skin______

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Vertebrate Checklist

Directions: Decide whether each statement is correct about fish (F), amphibians (A), reptiles (R), birds (B), and/or mammals (M). Check the correct group(s) after each statement. Be sure to include all possible correct answers.

Statement / F / A / R / B / M
1. Most adult group members live on or near land.
2. Members breathe with internal gills throughout its life.
3. Eggs must be laid in water.
4. Alligators and snakes belong to this group.
5. Most of the group members lay hard-shelled eggs.
6. All group members contain a circulatory system with a heart and blood vessels.
7. All group members have backbones.
8. All group members have hair on their bodies.
9. All adult members breathe with lungs.
10. Female members have mammary glands.
11. Sharks and rays belong to this group.
12. Salamanders and toads belong to this group.
13. The heart has two chambers.
14. Penguins and ostriches belong to this group.
15. Most of the adults have three chambered hearts.
16. Dolphins and bats belong to this group.
17. Some members of this group can breathe through their skin.
18. All members have a four chambered heart.
19. All female members lay eggs on land.
20. These have an endoskeleton.

Conclusion: CladogramNAME: ______

Cladograms are a way to organize things by what they have in common. They are a tool scientists use to understand how things are similar and different.

For each letter on the cladogram (below) provide a characteristic that would organize the cladogram by similar traits or features. Use the information gathered during the Comparison of Vertebrates Lab to pick your characteristics that you label. NOTE: you may have more characteristics in your lab, but only need to pick enough to label the letters.

A______

B______

C______

D______

E______

F______

G______

Conclusion: CladogramNAME: ______

Cladograms are a way to organize things by what they have in common. They are a tool scientists use to understand how things are similar and different.

For each letter on the cladogram (below) provide a characteristic that would organize the cladogram by similar traits or features. Use the information gathered during the Comparison of Vertebrates Lab to pick your characteristics that you label. NOTE: you may have more characteristics in your lab, but only need to pick enough to label the letters.

A______

B______

C______

D______

E______

F______

G______