Page 268 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Vertebrates SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Amphibians p.15
▸ ▸ Birds p.39
Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone. ▸ ▸ Fish p.101
The skeleton is a frame that helps the body move ▸ ▸ Invertebrates p.139
around. Mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and ▸ ▸ Mammals p.154

birds are all vertebrates. ▸ ▸ Reptiles p.210

▸ ▸ Skeleton p.228
The small, linked-up
The skull protects the bones in the back are
soft brain inside. called vertebrae.

Mammals
All mammals have a
similar skeleton. Only Having lots of
mammals have a lower little bones in
jawbone that is joined the tail means
it can be moved
to the skull by a hinge. around easily.

The ribcage holds
the tiger’s lungs
in place.

Tiger skeleton

Strong bones in the
Frog legs let the tiger
skeleton Fins let the fish jump a long way.
swim smoothly
Amphibians through water. Birds
Frogs and toads don’t have Most birds have light
ribs. They have strong leg bones, to let them
bones for jumping. Fish skeleton fly. Penguins have

Fish heavier bones so
Only some fish have they can dive
The jaw have bony skeletons. Others, such Bird skeletons deep in the
extra bones. are full of holes. water.
as sharks, have skeletons
made from a bendy This helps them
substance called cartilage. to be as light as
possible.

Reptiles
Reptiles have more bones
There are more in their skeletons than other
rib bones.
animals. This makes them Penguin
Lizard skeleton very bendy. skeleton
266

US_266_Vertebrates.indd 266 16/05/2017 09:51