VERTEBRATA
Classification
[USFWS Photo]
Chapter Outline
- Description of Vertebrata
- Classification of Vertebrata
- Petromyzontiformes
- Chondrichthyes
- Batoidea
- Chimaeriformes
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Vertebrata is a classification of animals ranked somewhere between a subphylum and a superclass. It contains those animals with a backbone containing segments of bone called vertebrae, which include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The fist division of vertebrates is between those with jaws and those without. Nearly all vertebrates have jaws but lampreys do not. Lampreys will be explored on the next page. The jawed vertebrates (Gnathostomata) are split into two groups: those with bony skeletons (Teleostomi) and the class of those with cartilaginous skeletons (Chondrichthyes). Cartilage is the flexible material that makes up the tip of your nose, your outer ears, and some other parts of the human body. But for some animals it makes up their whole skeleton. These animals include Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras. These animals are the focus of this chapter. Animals with bony skeletons will be explored in the following chapters.
- Hyperoartia
- Petromyzontiformes - Lampreys
- Gnathostomata
- Chondrichthyes
- Elasmobranchii
- Selachii
- Galeomorphii
- Galeoidea
- Carcharhiniformes - Ground Sharks
- Lamniformes
- Orectolobiformes - Carpet Sharks
- Heterodontoidea
- Heterodontiformes
- Galeoidea
- Squalimorphii
- Echinorhiniformes
- Hexanchiformes
- Pristiophoriformes
- Squaliformes
- Squatiniformes
- Galeomorphii
- Batoidea - Rays
- Myliobatiformes
- Pristiformes/Rhiniformes group
- Rajiformes - Skates
- Torpediniformes
- Selachii
- Holocephali
- Chimaeriformes - Chimaeras
- Elasmobranchii
- Teleostomi (following chapters)
- Chondrichthyes
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