Classification of Plants and Animals

Which of the following characteristics is used when determining whether to place an animal in the vertebrate group or the invertebrate group?

• ability to walk on two legs

• presence of a spinal cord

• method of respiration

• flow of blood through body

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What questions can be used to sort fish, such as a bass, from amphibians, such as a frog?

• Does the organism use gills to breathe?

• Does the organism eat insects?

• Is the organism able to move around?

• Does the organism lay eggs?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following questions could you ask to distinguish a mammal, such as a spider monkey, from a reptile, such as a crocodile?

• Does the animal have four limbs?

• Does the animal lay eggs?

• Does the animal consume food for energy?

• Does the animal have a backbone?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

True or False

A fish is warm-blooded.

A reptile is cold-blooded.

• True

• False

Which of the following is a characteristic of mammals?

• they do not have backbones

• they give birth to live young

• their body temperature changes depending on their surroundings

• they are single-celled organisms

Animals that usually have the same body temperature, regardless of their surroundings are called:

• terrestrial

• aquatic

• warm-blooded

• cold-blooded

Several scientists observe a never before seen animal that is cold-blooded, lays eggs and has scaly skin. This animal is probably a(n):

• invertebrate.

• bird.

• mammal.

• reptile.

A horse, cat, and elephant are grouped together because they share all of the following characteristics except:

• being warm-blooded.

• have scales.

• having live babies.

• feeding their babies with mother’s milk.

Amphibians show all of the following characteristics except:

• being cold-blooded.

• having scales.

• laying eggs.

• living on both land and in water.

How is a fish different from a jellyfish?

• A fish has a backbone.

• A fish is in the animal kingdom.

• A fish can reproduce.

• A fish lives in water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2