Patterns in Life: Diversity and Classification
Chordates and adaptations
Explore animals with a backbone, and how they are adapted.
Chordates have a notochord, a flexible rod along the back. In some, it develops into a backbone. Chordates are of two kinds: protochordates and vertebrates.
Protochordates, like *Amphioxus*, have a notochord at least once in their life. It supports the body without stopping it bending. They help us understand how chordates arose from simpler animals.
Vertebrates have a vertebral column (backbone): a stack of small bones, so the body can bend. It supports the body and protects the brain and spinal cord, which lets these animals grow bigger, with complex organ systems. There are five groups:
- fish;
- amphibians (frogs, toads);
- reptiles (lizards, snakes, turtles);
- birds;
- mammals.
Body features match the way of life (adaptations):
| Animal | Feature | Helps it |
|---|---|---|
| Fish | Fins and gills | Swim and breathe in water |
| Birds | Feathers, hollow bones, wings | Fly |
| Camel | Fat stored in its hump | Survive in the desert |
| Polar bear | Thick fur | Survive the cold |
| Mammals | Milk glands | Feed their young, so more survive |
Diverse forests protect people too:
- In the 1999 Odisha super cyclone, villages with more mangroves suffered less damage.
- In the Western Ghats, diverse forests lower the risk of Monkey Fever (Kyasanur Forest Disease).
- Soil microbes and mangrove mud trap or break down pollutants.
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