Sub-phylum

vertebrata
“All vertebrates are
chordates but all chordates
are not vertebrates”
 Division- Agnatha
Class-cyclostomata
• Greek. Kyklas=circle; stoma= mouth
• Body form- cylindrical and eel-like
• Ectoparasites on bony fishes
• Sanguivore
• Jawless
• Circular and sucking type of mouth
• Paired fins absent but median fins are present
• Notochord persist throughout life
• Skin- without scales, soft and slimy with
unicellular mucous glands.
• Endoskeleton- cartilaginous.
• Cartilaginous cranium and vertebral column
• Closed circulatory system.
• Respiratory organs- 6 to 15 pairs of gill slits
• Heart- 2 chambered( 1 auricle and 1 ventricle)
• Stomach absent.
• Cranial nerves- 8 to 10 pairs
• Lateral line sense organs are present.
• They are marine fishes but spawning takes
place in fresh water(anadromous migration).
• Development includes ammocoete larva.
Petromyzon (lamprey)
 Petromyzon(lamprey)
• Respiration-gills
• Paired fins are absent. Body has 1 caudal and 2
dorsal fins.
• Digestive system- presence of typhlosole(an
internal fold of the intestine or intestine inner wall.)
• Circulatory system- heart 2 chambers( 1 ventricle
and 1 auricle)
• RBC is circular and nucleated
• Poikelothermic
• Lateral line organ- it has receptor to detect
movement, vibrations and pressure gradient
in the water.
• Anterior end bears circular sucking disc and a
suctorial cup-shaped mouth opening.
• Skin is slimy with numerous mucous glands
• Larva- ammocoete
 Myxine(hagfish)
• Cold water dwellers
• Mouth surrounded by oral tentacles
• Borers( they feed on soft tissues of other
fishes)
• Sanguivore
• Only vertebrate which is osmoconformer
(maintain the same osmotic pressure as that
of sea water)
 Division- Gnathostomata
• Greek. Gnathos=jaws; stoma=mouth
• Mouth is bounded by jaws.
• Notochord is replaced by vertebral column
• Paired appendages are fins or limbs.
• Skin is soft and slimy or dry and covered with
scales, feathers or hair.
• Gnathostomata is divided into 2 superclasses
namely- pisces and tetrapoda
• Pisces is further divided into 2 class
namely-
1. Chondrichthys( cartilaginous fish)
In Greek chondron-cartilage and ichthyes-fish
2. Osteichthys(bony fish)
In Greek osteos-bone and ichthyes-fish
 Difference between
chondrichthys osteichthys
• Marine • Freshwater/marine
• No operculum except • Have operculum
Chimaera • Gills – 4 pairs
• Gills- 5 pairs • Endoskeleton- bones
• Endoskeleton-cartilage • Scales- cycloid, ganoid and
• Scales- placoid ctenoid( most common one)
• Dorsal fin- 2 • Dorsal fin- 1
• Caudal fin- heterocercal • Caudal fin- homocercal
• Mouth-ventral • Mouth anterior
• Ureotelic • Ammonotelic
• Air bladder absent • Air bladder present.
• Claspers found in • No claspers
pelvic fins in males
and is used as
copulatory organ. • Oviparous mostly
• Viviparous mostly
 Examples of chondrichthys
1. Scoliodon (Indian shark or dog fish)
 Oil is extracted from liver. Its liver is rich in
vitamin A and D.
 Skin is used as abrasive known as shangreen.
2. Torpedo( electric ray)
 Slow moving, bottom dweller, cartilaginous
fish.
 It swims by flapping action of large flap-like
pectoral fins.
 They have electric organs on dorsal side and
they are modified muscles which generate
high voltage to kill prey.
torpedo
3. Chimaera (ratfish/rabbit fish/king of herrings)
 Act as a connecting link between cartilaginous
fish and bony fish
Bony fish character Cartilagenous fish character
• Gills- 4 pairs • Endoskeleton- cartilagenous
• Presence of operculum • Ventral mouth
• Small mouth with fleshy lips • Claspers – in males
• Cloaca- absent • 2 dorsal fins
• Anus and urinogenital • Placoid scales in young ones
apertures are separate.
( hammer head shark)
Pristis(Saw fish)
Rhincodon typus ( whale shark)
 Class 2- Osteichthyes(bony fish)
• Endoskeleton-bony
• Paired fins- pectoral and pelvic fins supported
by bony fin rays
• Tail- homocercal
• Skin- soft either naked or covered with
cycloid,ctenoid or ganoid scales
• Respiratory organs- gills 4 pairs covered with
operculum
• Air bladder- provides buoyancy
• Circulatory system- 2 chambered. RBCs are
biconvex and nucleated.
• Lateral line system- consists of lateral line
canals, having a series of sensory cells which
detect the presence of other fish and objects.
• Oviparous- large,yolky eggs.
• Fertilization- external
 Examples of bony fishes
1. Catla catla
2. Labeo rohita (rohu)
3. Anguila( European eel)
- They are migratory
- Catadromous( when fish migrate from fresh water to sea)
4. Hilsa
- Anadromous(when fish migrate from sea to fresh water)
5. Amphipnous cushia- Indian eel
6. Gambusia (mosquito fish)
- Act as biocontrol agent by feeding on mosquito larva.
7. Sardinella (salmon)
- Catadromous
8. Hippocampus (sea horse)
- males have a brood pouch to store eggs
9.Protopterus( African lung fish)
- Carnivore and even cannibal
- Air bladder modified into lungs
- Heart- 3 chambered
- Act as a connecting link between bony fish and
amphibians
Bony fish characters Amphibian chracters
• Have scales • Lungs for respiration
• Presence of lateral line • Internal nares(area where
organ nasal opening leads to
• Presence of fins pharynx)
• 3 chambered heart
 Superclass 2- Tetrapoda
• 2 pairs of pentadactyl limbs for locomotion.
• Endoskeleton- bony
• Skin- dry with scales, feathers or hair.
• Respiration takes place by lungs.
• Heart- 3 or 4 chambered with double
circulation.
 Class-Amphibia
• Greek. Amphi=both; bios=life
• Aquatic- Newts and salamanders
• Terrestrial- Toads and frogs
• Arboreal- eg. Tree frogs
• Carnivores
• Tongue anteriorly attached and posteriorly
free.
• Dicondylic skull
• Respiration-
1.Tadpoles- gills
2.Adult frogs- skin, bucco-pharyngeal cavity, lungs
• Heart- 3 chambered( arteriovenous heart)
• Exoskeleton- absent
• Endoskeleton- bony
• Excretory system- mesonephric kidney, urinary
bladder present.
• Young ones ammonotelic
• Superclass 2- Tetrapoda is divided into 4
classes namely-
1.Amphibia
2.Reptilia
3.Aves
4.Mammalia
 Adults- ureotelic
Exception- in salamander even adults are
ammonotelic
Oviparous
Reproduction- External in frog and internal in
salamander.
Heart- 3 chambered, 2 auricles, 1 ventricle.
Accessory chamber- sinus venosus and truncus
arteriosus.
• Development- indirect
• Tadpole larva in frogs
• Axolotls are those amphibians which reach adulthood
without undergoing metamorphosis. Eg. Ambystoma
mexicanum and Ambystoma tigrinum.
• Retention of larval characters is called neoteny and
this type of reproduction is called paedogenesis.
• Axolotls are used extensively in scientific research due
to their ability to regenerate limbs, gills and part of
their eyes and brains.
 Examples of amphibians
1. Rana tigrina ( Indian bull frog)
- Vocal sac in males
- Nuptial pads in males
- Have webs on the feet
2. Bufo (toads)
- Parotoid gland present behind tympanum
secrete bufotoxin for defense.
- No webs on the feet
3.Salamanders
- They have long slender body and a tail.
- They breathe through skin, gills or lungs
4. Ichthyophis (limbless amphibians)
- Well adapted for burrowing.
- Some species have scales
- Eyes-degenerated, covered with thick skin
- Head-small, bears a pair of sensory tentacles
- Matriphagy - consumption of the mother by her
offspring eg. Some caecillian amphibians
• Class Amphibia is divided into 3 orders-
1. Apoda/Caecilia
- Limbless amphibians. Eg, Ichthyophis
2. Urodela/caudata
- Tailed amphibians eg. Salamander, mud
puppy
3. Anura/salientia
- Tail is absent eg, frogs
 Class- Reptilia
• Latin. Repere or reptum= to creep or crawl
• Aquatic or terrestrial
• Poikilotherms(depend on envirnoment for maintaining
their body temperature)
• Exoskeleton- made of epidermal scales/scutes
• Skin-dry and non-glandular
• Tympanum as ear
• Respiration- lungs
• Circulatory system- heart 3 chambered except for
crocodiles which have 4 chambered heart.
• Arteriovenous heart
• Excretory system-
1.Terrestrial reptiles- uricotelic
2.Aquatic reptiles- ureotelic
• Jacobson’s organ- snakes have this Jacobson’s organ
located at the base of the nasal cavity and the function
is to perceive various types of chemicals in air.
• Oviparous
• Monocondylic skull.
Testudo ( Tortoise) Chelone ( Turtle)
• Amphibious • Marine
• Limbs pentadactyl with • Limbs modified into flippers
claws
• Shell very prominent and • Shell heart shape
oval in shape
• It can withdraw complete • Can withdraw head in the
body in the shell shell partially
• Herbivore • Omnivore
 Examples of reptiles
1. Wall lizard or Gecko ( Hemidactylus)
• Adhesive lamellae beneath their digits
• Make sound by hitting their tongue on the
roof of the buccal cavity
• They show autotomy
• Nocturnal, insectivorous with long
protrusible tongue.
2. Ophisaurus (Glass lizard or glass snake)
 Limbless lizard that resembles snake.
 Glass snake derived its name from its ability
to break off its tail into several pieces like a
glass when seized.
3. Chameleons( tree lizard)
- Arboreal
- Prehensile tail
- Creast/horn on the back
- Long tongue
- They change their skin colour according to their
surrounding. The purpose is to regulate their
body temperature or to signal their intentions
to other chameleons.
4. snakes
- eg. Cobra( Naja naja)
- Characteristic hood is formed by stretching
the neck
- Tongue bifid- an organ of smell and touch
- Eye- small, immovable eyelid
- Jacobson’s organ – olfactory organ
- Long teeth called fangs to inject poison
- Fangs are modified maxillary teeth
- Poison gland- modified salivary gland
- Poison is of 2 types-
- Neurotoxin( damage nervous system)
- Haemolytic( breakdown RBCs)
5. Typhlina brahmina (smallest Indian snake)
- Show parthenogenesis(development of an
embryo from an unfertilized egg cell)
- Female lay eggs and without fertilization the
eggs develop into females only(thelytoky)
 Crocodiles,Aligators and Gharials
• Largest living reptiles
• Head- produced into a long snout with nostrils
at the tip
• Heart- 4 chambered
• Skin- thick and leathery with horny scutes.
• Tail- powerful swimming organ
• Limbs- short, strong, pentadactyl, clawed and
webbed.
 Class- aves
• Streamlined or boat shaped body
• Homeothermic
• Exoskeleton- feathers
• Oil gland at the base of the tail/preen gland
• Forelimbs modified into wings
• Hind limbs have scales( hind limbs are used for
swimming, walking, clasping etc)
• Endoskeleton- made of pneumatic bones (bones having
air filled cavities).
• Monocondylic skull
• Sternum is keeled (V shaped)
• Flight muscles attach in the sternum
• Beak without teeth
• Digestive system- muscular gizzard for crushing and
churning food.
• Circulatory system- complete
• Heart- 4 chambers
• Excretory system- uricotelic
• Sense of vision and hearing is very well developed
• Oviparous
• Nervous system- brain well developed, 12 pairs
of cranial nerves
• Syrinx- sound producing organ
• Young ones-
• Nidifugous- starts to walk right after hatching,
have feathers, eyes open. Eg. Chick
• Nidicolous- without feathers, eyes closed,
completely dependent on parents. Eg. sparrows
• Right ovary and right oviduct are vestigial( a flight
adaptation)
• If the left ovary gets damaged then right ovary
becomes functional.
• Birdman of India- Dr. Salim Ali
• Nidology- study of nest
• Ornithology- study of birds
• Birds- ‘glorified reptiles’ this term was given by Huxley
• Archeopteryx- missing link between bird and reptiles
 Archeopteryx lithographica
Reptilian features-
• Toothed beak,long slender tail,non-pneumatic
bones, absence of sternum, scales on the body
and limbs.
Avian characters-
• Forelimbs modified into wings, body and tail
with feathers, foot with tarsometatarsus bearing
4-clawed digits, v-shaped furcula(wish bone)
and jaws produced into a beak.
 Class- mammalia
• Mammary glands- produce milk
• Exoskeleton- hair
• Endoskeleton- bony
• Homeothermic
• Limbs-pentadactyl
• External ear- only mammals have pinnae
• Diaphragm- separates thoracic and abdominal
cavity
• Heart- 4 chambered
• Nervous system- brain well developed with
large cerebrum
• Reproduction- viviparous mostly. Some are
egg-laying eg. Spiny ant eater and platypus
• Parental care- highly developed in all the
mammals.
• Dicondylic skull.
• Class mammalia is divided into 2 subclass
namely-
1. Prototheria(monotremata: egg-laying
mammal)
2. Theria(young one-producing mammal)
• Subclass theria is divided into 2 infraclass
namely-
1. Metatheria (marsupials/ pouched mammals)
2. Eutheria( placental mammals)
 subclass- prototheria
• Primitive mammals with reptilian
characteristic
• Egg laying- eggs large and yolky
• Mammary glands-present but without nipples
• External ear or pinna- absent
• Cloaca present
• They form a connecting link between reptiles
and mammals
Reptilian character Mammalian character
• Absence of pinna • Presence of hair
• Egg laying • Mammary glands without
• Shelled yolky eggs nipples
• Cloaca present. • Diaphragm present
• Examples-
• Ornithorhynchus ( duck billed platypus)
• Echidna or Tachyglossus (spiny ant eater)
 Subclass 2- Theria
• Viviparous mammals
• No cloaca
• Digestive tract and urinogenital tract separate
• Eggs- without shell and less yolk
• Embryo develops in uterus and gets nourished
through placenta.
 Infraclass-metatheria
• Young ones born premature and embryonic
development is completed within the
abdominal pouch called marsupium.
• Testes are extra-abdominal.
• Mammary glands present inside the pouch with
nipples.
• They have yolk sac placenta.
• Eg. Kangaroo(Macropus), opossum(Didelphis),
koala, Tasmanian wolf etc.
 Infraclass-Eutheria
• True placental mammals.
• Extra-abdominal testes in scrotum except for
elephants, whales and seals which have intra
abdominal testis.
• Mammary gland and nipples- well developed
• Eggs- small in size, without shell, less yolk
• Eg. Hedgehog, bat, whale, elephant, man, ape,
monkey etc.