Vertebrates
February 25, 2008
Vocabulary
Cephalochordata Urochordata Vertebrata Notochord Pharyngeal slits Agnatha
Gnathostomata Chondrichthyes Osteichthyes Amphibians metamorphosis Reptilia
Pterosaurs amniotic egg Archaeopteryx Aves endothermic exothermic mammalian keratin
Oviparous viviparous Monotremes Marsupials Eutherians marsupium arboreal
Brachiation Paleoanthropology Australopithecus africanus
1. Explain the characteristics of chordates.
2. What are the characteristics present in the class vertebrata in addition to what are present in all chordates?
3. Differentiate between Agnatha and Gnathostomata.
4. What are the six classes of Gnathostomata?
5. What are some of the characteristics of Osteichthyes (bony fishes)?
6. Characteristics of Amphibians.
7. What are the differences between larval and adult amphibians?
9. ______ is the oldest known fossil with feathers, so considered the ancestor of birds.
10. What are some of the benefits of flight in birds?
10. What are some of the modifications in birds to enhance flight?
11. Explain some of the characteristics of mammals.
12. Ancestors of mammals were ______.
13. What are three major groups of mammals?
14. What are some of the features of primates?
15. Explain two hypotheses regarding the evolution of humans and which of those is the one supported by mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosomes analysis.
16. ______ are more closely related to humans than to other apes.