The vertebrates are those endowed with a backbone or spinal column, which divides the body into two identical halves (bilateral symmetry). Normally its body can be divided into the head, trunk (thorax and abdomen) and tail. For example: dog, parrot, toucan, shark.
This classification includes more than 60,000 current species , as well as a significant number of fossils, since its evolutionary origin is estimated to be at the beginning of the Paleozoic period , during the Cambrian explosion. The oldest known is the Haikouichtys , which originated 525 million years ago.
With few exceptions, the reproduction of vertebrates is sexual, and their locomotor, circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, nervous, digestive and excretory systems are among the most complex known.
- See also: Invertebrate animals
Examples of vertebrate animals
Broadly speaking, vertebrates can be grouped into five categories: Mammals, Reptiles, Fish, Birds, Amphibians:
Mammals
| Whales | Capybaras | Mice |
| Dolphins | Sheep | Kangaroos |
| Killer whales | Elephants | Chimpanzees |
| Dogs | Giraffes | Gorillas |
| Cats | Rhinos | Humans |
| Horses | Lions | Goats |
| Cows | Hyenas |
- More in: Mammals
Reptiles
| Vipers | Basilisks | Australian flying lizards |
| Crocodiles | Boas constrictors | Gila Monsters |
| Alligators | Galapagos tortoises | Lutions |
| Iguanas | Turtles | Dinosaurs (extinct) |
| Aquatic turtles | Monitor | Pterosaurs (extinct) |
| Common lizards | Chameleons | Mosasaurs (extinct) |
| Komodo dragons | Tuátaras from New Zealand |
- More in: Reptiles
Fishes
| Sharks | Codfish | Sail fish |
| Sea eels | Toad fish | Tuna |
| Barracudas | Japanese koi | Sword fish |
| Puffer fish | Tents | Abyssal fish |
| Clown fish | Sturgeon | Coelacanths (extinct) |
| River needles | Piranhas | Soles |
| Whale sharks | Moon fish |
Amphibians
| Axolotls | Running toads | African bullfrogs |
| Tree frogs | Giant toads | Chinese giant salamanders |
| Cecilias | Poisonous frogs | Necturos |
| Common salamanders | Gallipats | Microsaurs (extinct) |
| Rainbow frogs | Lungless salamanders | Lysorophians (extinct) |
| Darwin’s frogs | Seychelles frogs | Proteus |
| Common toads | Poisonous Cane Toads |
