Nature Example
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Vertebrates
Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone or spinal column.
Examples: Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
💡 Fun Facts
- Mammals: The only animals that produce milk to feed their young and have hair or fur.
- Birds: Modern-day dinosaurs, and the only animals with feathers.
- Reptiles: Have waterproof, scaly skin and are cold-blooded, relying on the sun for warmth.
- Amphibians: Live a "double life", starting with gills in water and developing lungs for land.
- Fish: Have gills to breathe underwater and fins for movement.
- The smallest known vertebrate is a tiny frog from Papua New Guinea, called Paedophryne amauensis, which is only 7.7 millimetres long on average.
- Although they are often larger, vertebrates make up only about 3% of all known animal species.