Explain how animals in vertebrate are classified into further subgroups.(AS1)

Vertebrata is divided into five groups:

i. Aves – birds

ii. Pisces – fishes

iii. Mammals – humans

iv. Reptilia – reptiles

v. Amphibia – amphibians

Aves: They have an exoskeleton of feathers, four-chambered heart, hollow bones, the flight is possible, warm-blooded and lay eggs.

Pisces: They have an exoskeleton of scales, aerodynamic body structure, cold-blooded to change the body temperature according to the water temp, have gills for the respiration of dissolved oxygen and lay eggs.

Mammals: They have hairs as the exoskeleton, four-chambered heart, warm-blooded and gave birth to young ones.

Reptiles: They have scales on the body, cold-blooded, crawl for locomotion, have commonly three-chambered heart accept crocodile and lay eggs.

Amphibia: They can survive on both land and water, have both lungs and gills depending on the life stage, have an exoskeleton of mucus, three-chambered heart and lay eggs.