Aquatic Life - Vertebrate Aquatic Life - Vertebrate Animals Animals In this unit we will discuss characteristics of aquatic animals categorized as vertebrates (animals with backbones) beginning with fish. Summaries = Purple Underlined = Vocabulary Photo Credit: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams Image
Aquatic Life - Vertebrate Animals. In this unit we will discuss characteristics of aquatic animals categorized as vertebrates (animals with backbones) beginning with fish. Summaries = Purple Underlined = Vocabulary. Photo Credit: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams Image. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Aquatic Life - Vertebrate Animals Aquatic Life - Vertebrate Animals
In this unit we will discuss characteristics of aquatic animals categorized as vertebrates (animals with backbones) beginning with fish.
Chordate CharacteristicsChordate Characteristics At some stage in their
development, all chordates share four main characteristics…
1. A dorsal, hollow nerve cord will later connect the brain to the rest of the body (internal organs, muscles, and sense organs in advanced organisms).
2. The notochord is a long supporting rod that runs through the body just below the nerve cord (it will be replaced by the backbone in advanced vertebrates).
They have a closed circulatory system (blood vessels), but no true heart and are thin enough that they filter oxygen straight through their skin. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/
Fish - Adaptations for WaterFish - Adaptations for Water Fish are characterized by overlapping scales
that cover the skin to provide protection. These scales are coated in a slippery mucus to
reduce friction in the water and help them to swim faster.
Fish have paired fins to help steer and provide stability in the water (movement).
Fish have an internal swim bladder to allow them to move up or down in the water or remain at a given depth. Think of it as a thin balloon-like sac; with air the fish goes
up in the water, without air the fish sinks (not found in sharks).
The lateral line system is a sense organ that detects vibrations and changes in the water pressure and alerts fish to movement of other organisms in the water.
Fusiform shape allows a fish to move through the water effectively; fish are tapered at both ends to increase speed through the water.
Cont. Adaptations for WaterCont. Adaptations for Water