Vertebrates | List of Vertebrate Animals with Interesting Facts

Vertebrates are a classification of living beings that encompass a myriad of species, ranging from the largest mammals to the smallest insects. Every living organism is categorized as either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. Interestingly, approximately 95% of the animal kingdom comprises invertebrates, while the remaining 5% constitutes vertebrates.

Vertebrates

What Is a Vertebrate?

Vertebrates are animals characterized by the presence of a backbone or spinal column composed of vertebrae, which safeguard the spinal nerves. In contrast, invertebrates lack a spinal column.

Vertebrates possess a well-defined skeleton that provides structural support for their muscles and organs. They also boast a developed brain, heart, eyes, and mouth.

Types of Vertebrates

The five primary types of vertebrates include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, all of which possess a backbone. Among these, fish represent the largest group of vertebrates, comprising approximately 28,000 different species, whereas the world accommodates roughly 6,495 species of mammals.

The fish group can be further categorized into Osteichthyes (bony fish with a skeleton composed of bones), Chondrichthyes (comprising sharks, manta rays, and skates), and Agnatha (encompassing jawless fish).

Differences between Invertebrates and Vertebrates

	Vertebrates	Invertebrates
Do they have a backbone?	Yes	No
Do they have a heart?	Yes	Not all do and not a complex and developed one
Do they have a skeleton?	Indeed, they possess a complete skeleton primarily composed of bones, except for sharks, manta rays, and skates, which have a cartilaginous skeletal structure.	The majority of invertebrates lack a skeleton, although certain members, like spiders, possess an external exoskeleton made from a rigid material.
Size	Substantial size can be very large and move very fast	Mainly very small and slow-moving
How do they breathe?	Through lungs or gills	Through gills, absorbed through the body surface, or through the tracheae
Reproduction method	Sexual reproduction	Asexual reproduction
How many legs do they have?	Never more than four limbs – either two arms and two legs, or four legs. The exception being those that have no limbs at all such as snakes.	Can have many legs (mainly insects) or have none at all

Additionally, there exist several distinctions between vertebrates and invertebrates. Notably, invertebrates exhibit two primary body forms: either symmetrical bodies where the left and right sides mirror each other, with a discernible front and back end, or round shapes centered around a mouth located in the middle of the body.

Furthermore, the majority of invertebrates lack blood but contain a yellowish or greenish substance, as they do not possess red blood cells. Vertebrates, on the other hand, are notably more intelligent than invertebrates, equipped with intricate and fully developed brains, setting them apart from their invertebrate counterparts.

List of Vertebrates

List of Vertebrate Animals

There is a vast number of animals that are vertebrates and some of them include:

• Elephants
• Giraffes
• Leopards
• Dogs
• Cats
• Deer
• Wolves
• Whales
• Sharks
• Dolphins
• Snakes
• Goldfish
• Salmon
• Trout
• Manta Rays
• Frogs
• Toads
• Lizards
• Owls
• Eagles
• Flamingo
• Ostriches

Vertebrates with Interesting Facts

• The largest animals in the world are vertebrates.
• There are a significantly greater number of invertebrate species compared to vertebrates.
• Monotreme mammals like platypuses and echidnas are the only mammals that lay eggs.
• Antarctica’s extreme cold prevents the presence of reptiles and amphibians.
• Male birds often boast brighter colors than females to attract mates.
• Snakes use their tongues to smell and can dislocate their jaws to consume prey.
• There are over 600 venomous snake species worldwide, often protected by numerous ribs.
• The longest recorded snake, a reticulated python in 1912, measured 32 feet.
• Some sharks lay eggs, while others give birth to live young.
• Sharks enter a trance when upside down, a state called tonic immobility.
• Sharks continuously grow new teeth, replacing them every two weeks.
• Bats, dolphins, whales, shrews, and certain birds use echolocation or bio sonar.
• Certain bat species can live for up to thirty years.
• Frogs absorb water through their skin rather than drinking it.
• Flamingo chicks are born grey and not pink.
• Owls have immobile eyes and rely on head movements for vision.
• A male lion’s roar can be heard from several miles away.
• Gorillas share about 98% of DNA with humans, making them close relatives to chimpanzees.
• Giant pandas have a wrist bone capable of functioning like a thumb.
• A baby kangaroo (joey) is born approximately 2.5 centimeters long and remains in the pouch for ten months.
• Koalas are marsupials, not bears, similar to kangaroos and wallabies.
• Cheetahs can reach speeds of up to 75 miles per hour.
• An elephant’s tusks are modified incisor teeth.
• Hippopotamuses have their eyes, ears, and nose on the top of their heads for sensory function while submerged in water.