Hall of Vertebrate Zoology Introduction to the Hall of Vertebrate Zoology Animals with backbones are called vertebrates . Scientists have grouped the vertebrate animals into five classes based on their body structures and life styles. Below you can click on an icon to meet some animals from each class as presented by students of the C. R. Drew Science Magnet School. Fish can be jawless like the lamprey, cartilaginous like the shark, or bony like the perch. Amphibians can be frogs, salamanders or legless caecilians.
Water is where they most often lay their eggs.
Moist environments are preferred by most amphibians. Reptiles can be lizards, snakes, crocodilians, turtles or tuataras. Reptile eggs and skins are good at holding water inside. Birds can be flightless like the ostrich or the penguin, or flight-full, like the eagle, but thy all have feathers which help them to keep a steady body temperature. Birds lay eggs and most bird parents look after their young.