Classification of vertebrate animals

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 22 January 2021
Update Date: 19 May 2024
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Vertebrate Animals for kids: Mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles
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Content

Vertebrate animals are those that have a inner skeleton, which can be bony or cartilaginous, and belong to the subphylum of the chordates, that is, they have a dorsal cord or notochord and are made up of a large group of animals, including fish and mammals. These share some characteristics with the other subphyla that make up the chordates, but develop new and novel features that allow them to be separated within the taxonomic classification system.

This group has also been called craneados, which refers to the presence of a skull in these animals, whether of bone or cartilaginous composition. However, the term has been defined by some scientists as obsolete. Biodiversity identification and classification systems estimate that there are more than 60,000 vertebrate species, a clearly diverse group that occupies virtually all ecosystems on the planet. In this article by PeritoAnimal we will introduce you to classification of vertebrate animals. Good reading!


How is the classification of vertebrate animals

Vertebrate animals have intelligence, a good cognitive capacity and are able to perform very different movements due to the junction of muscles and skeleton.

Vertebrates are known to understand, in a simple way:

  • Fish
  • amphibians
  • reptiles
  • birds
  • Mammals

However, currently there are two types of classification of vertebrate animals: the traditional Linnean and the cladistic. Although Linnean classification has traditionally been used, recent studies conclude that cladistic classification establishes some different criteria in relation to the classification of these animals.

In addition to explaining these two ways of classifying vertebrate animals, we will also present you with a classification based on the more general characteristics of invertebrate groups.


Vertebrate animals according to the traditional Linnean classification

The Linnean classification is a system accepted worldwide by the scientific community that provides a way practical and useful to categorize the world of living things. However, with advances especially in areas such as evolution and therefore in genetics, some classifications delimited along this line had to change over time. Under this classification, vertebrates are divided into:

Superclass Agnatos (no jaws)

In this category, we find:

  • Cephalaspidomorphs: this is an already extinct class.
  • Hyperartios: here come the lampreys (such as the species Petromyzon marinus) and other aquatic animals, with elongated and gelatinous bodies.
  • Mixines: commonly known as hagfish, which are marine animals, with very elongated bodies and very primitive.

Superclass Gnatostomados (with jaws)

Here are grouped:


  • Placoderms: an already extinct class.
  • Acanthus: another extinct class.
  • Chondrites: where cartilaginous fish such as the blue shark are found (Prionace glauca) and the stingray, such as the Aetobatus narinari, between others.
  • osteite: are commonly known as bony fish, among which we can mention the species Plectorhinchus vittatus.

Tetrapoda Superclass (with four ends)

The members of this superclass too they have jaws. Here we find a diverse group of vertebrate animals, which is divided into four classes:

  • amphibians.
  • reptiles.
  • birds.
  • Mammals.

These animals have managed to develop in all possible habitats, being distributed throughout the planet.

Vertebrate animals according to cladistic classification

With the advance of evolutionary studies and the optimization of research in genetics, cladistic classification emerged, which classifies the diversity of living beings in function precisely of their evolutionary relationships. In this type of classification there are also differences and it will depend on several factors, so there are no absolute definitions for the respective grouping. According to this area of ​​biology, vertebrates are generally classified as:

  • Cyclostomes: jawless fish such as hagfish and lampreys.
  • Chondrites: cartilaginous fish such as sharks.
  • actinopterios: bony fish such as trout, salmon and eels, among many others.
  • Dipnoos: lungfish, such as salamander fish.
  • amphibians: toads, frogs and salamanders.
  • Mammals: whales, bats and wolves, among many others.
  • Lepidosaurians: lizards and snakes, among others.
  • Testudines: the turtles.
  • archosaurs: crocodiles and birds.

More examples of vertebrate animals

Here are some examples of vertebrate animals:

  • Gray dolphin (Sotalia guianensis)
  • Jaguar (Panthera onca)
  • Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
  • New Zealand Quail (Coturnix novaezelandiae)
  • Pernambuco Cabure (Glaucidium mooreorum)
  • Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
  • Gray eagle (Urubinga coronata)
  • Violet-Eared Hummingbird (Colibri serrirostris)

In this other PeritoAnimal article, you can see more examples of vertebrate and invertebrate animals and several images of vertebrate animals.

Other types of classification of vertebrate animals

Vertebrates were grouped together because they share as a common feature the presence of a skull set that provides protection to the brain and bony or cartilaginous vertebrae that surround the spinal cord. But, on the other hand, due to certain specific characteristics, they can also be classified more generally into:

  • Agnates: includes mixines and lampreys.
  • Gnatostomados: where fish are found, vertebrates jawed with ends that form fins and tetrapods, which are all other vertebrates.

Another way of classifying vertebrate animals is by embryonic development:

  • amniotes: refers to the development of the embryo in a fluid-filled sac, as is the case in reptiles, birds and mammals.
  • anamniotes:highlights the cases where the embryo does not develop in a fluid-filled bag, where we can include fish and amphibians.

As we were able to demonstrate, there are certain differences between the systems ofclassification vertebrate animals, and this then suggests the level of complexity that exists in this process of identifying and grouping the planet's biodiversity.

In this sense, it is not possible to establish absolute criteria in classification systems, however we can have an idea of ​​how vertebrate animals are classified, a fundamental aspect to understand their dynamics and evolution within the planet.

Now that you know what vertebrate animals are and know their different types of classification, you may be interested in this article on the alternation of generations in animals.

If you want to read more articles similar to Classification of vertebrate animals, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.