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Questions tagged [vertebrates]

Question specifically regards vertebrates. Vertebrata is a Subphylum within the Chordata Phylum, and Animalia Kingdom. Vertebrates are animals with backbones and consist of 4% of the described animal species, and include mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and several Classes of fish.

Vertebrata is a Subphylum within the Chordata Phylum, and Animalia Kingdom. Vertebrates are animals with backbones and consist of 4% of the described animal species, and include mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and several Classes of fish.

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Why is venom more common in fish and snakes than other vertebrates?

Reading this question, I wondered why is it that we associate vertebrate venoms so often with snakes and fish, and more rarely with lizards, amphibians, mammals, and birds (apparently never, in birds?). Are venoms more advantageous for snakes and…
Oreotrephes
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Skull mystery on beach

The skull was found on a beach on the Sechelt inlet on Canada's pacific coast. A marine environment. What species is this skull from?
Rusty biologist
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Are humans Gnathostomates?

Gnathostomates are vertebrates having jaws. But when I search on the internet for Gnathostomates, I always find out that they are sharks and fish-like organisms. But are humans not also Gnathostomates? Don't we have jaws?
Taylan
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Difference between intervertebral and vertebral foramina

In the human spine, what is the difference between intervertebral and vertebral foramina? Is it just a matter of perspective and do they refer to the same thing or are they different?
NurseToBe
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Why is ammonia converted to urea rather than secreted in the urine?

Since ammonia is highly soluble in water, my senses keep telling me something like, "Just a little bit of water is enough to flush it, given that a lot of it would dissolve per liter of solvent". But who knew, it's exactly the opposite. I keep…
Diego Menezes Pamplona
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Why were dinosaur skeletons so light compared to mammal skeletons?

I was watching a presentation by Dr. Jessica Theodor [1] who discusses (at 38:10), among other things, the skeletal structure of dinosaurs vs. mammals. "Dinosaurs have way lighter skeletons, which means that for the amount of material they can be…
Charles
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What role does the eardrum and ossicles play in hearing, versus cilia?

Modern electronic sound recording equipment employs a physical membrane that triggers the piezoelectric effect in a metallic element, to transform sound waves into electric signals. I had always thought that the eardrum (or tympanic membrane) was…
user151841
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Why are there splice variants within the same organism? What might contribute to the need for the feature?

I only know splice variants are produced by different combinations of introns and exons. I wish to know why there is a need of such function. Perhaps using the same amount of DNA sequence to produce multiple proteins saves genetic material. Also, I…
stareagle130
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Which is the guideline to choose a molecular target to identify vertebrate hosts from arthropod bloodmeals?

There are some molecular targets to identify vertebrate hosts from arthropod bloodmeals including the Cyt b gene and the COI gene. Which are the standards or characteristics that I have to bear in mind to choose a molecular target to identify host…
Nyctea
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In what "space" does egg mature in Kiwi?

This huge egg here, is it sort of tethered to the ovary, filling up the coelomic cavity, and then exiting out of the infundibulum, or, where is it in the bird exactly? What "space" does it occupy?
IanMalcolm
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Why do vertebrates have an oesophagus?

As far as I know, the oesophagus in vertebrates has no digestive or absorptive function. It is simply a conduit from the mouth to more distal parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Why have it at all, then? What evolutionary advantage does it give?…
Adhish
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What is the minimum number of clades necessary to partition Vertebrates while maintaining the classical groups of Birds, Mammals, and Amphibians?

At school I was taught the Linnaean view of vertebrate life - that vertebrate animals consisted of 5 distinct groups: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish. I learned later however that this was phylogenetically inaccurate, with birds being…
brazofuerte
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If an organism is supported only by cartilage, does it have an endoskeleton?

Lamprey and sharks lack bones, but does this mean they are not classified as having an endoskelton? Does an organism need bone to be considered as having an endoskeleton?
Vanessa
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Why are vertebrae, specifically, so important in classification?

A fundamental level of animal classification is the distinction between vertebrates and invertebrates. The vertebrata are, arguably, often classified as higher life forms than the invertebrata. But why is the presence of the spine so important? …
Mason Wheeler
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The suspended cat clavicle

I know the clavicle of the cat floats freely as opposed to be attached as in humans. This is supposed to allow them to be able to squeeze through spaces, according to a quick google search. But how does that allow them to move through tight spaces…
frenchwhorne
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