Vetebrate Animals

Animales Vertebrados

Animals with an internal skeleton made of bone are called vertebrates. Vertebrates include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, primates, rodents and marsupials. Although vertebrates represent only a very small percentage of all animals, their size and mobility often allow them to dominate their environment.

Animales con esqueletos internos hechos de huesos son llamados vertebrado. Los vertebrado incluyen peces, anfibios, reptiles, aves, mamíferos, monos, roedores y marsupiales. Aunque los vertebrado representan solo un pequeño por ciento de todo animal, su tamaño y movilidad les permite dominar su medio ambiente.

Fish - Peces

Fishes are vertebrates that have a skeleton made of either bone or cartilage. About 95% of fishes have skeletons made of bone. Fishes with a cartilage skeleton tend to be heavier than water and sink. They must swim to keep afloat. Cartilaginous (cartilage) fish include the ray and the shark.

Peces que son vertebrado tienen esqueletos hecho de huesos o cartílago. Sobre 95% de todo pez tiene esqueleto hecho de huesos. Peces con cartílago tienden ser mas pesado que agua y se hunden. Ellos tienen que nadar para quedarse a flote. Peces con cartílago incluye el rayo y el tiburón.

Amphibians - Anfibios

Amphibians lay their eggs in water, and young amphibians tend to resemble small fish. The tadpole, or newborn frog, is born and lives in water. It has a tail that allows it to swim like a fish. It also has gills so that it can breathe under water. As the tadpole grow into a frog, it loses its gills and tail, and develops legs for moving on land. Most amphibians can both walk and swim in water. Amphibians body temperature changes with its environment. In cold climates, amphibians hibernate during the winter.

Los anfibios ponen huevos en agua y los pequeños anfibios tienden parecerse a pequeños peces. Los Renacuajos, o ranas recién nacidos, nacen y viven en agua. Tiene cola que les permite nadar como un pez. También tienen branquias para poder respirar debajo del agua. Mientras van creciendo las ranas pierde las branquias, las colas y empieza a desarrollar patas para moverse en tierra. Muchos de los anfibios pueden caminar y andar en agua. La temperatura de los anfibios cambia con su medio ambiente. En climas fríos, los anfibios hiberna durante el invierno.

Reptiles

Reptiles are often called cold-blooded because they can't regulate their own body temperature. Their body temperature depends on the external temperature. They will lie in the sun to heat their body, or hide in the ground, under a rock or in water to cool their body.

Reptiles son llamados sangre fríos porque no pueden regular su propia temperatura. La temperatura de sus cuerpos depende de la temperatura externa. Ellos se acuestan debajo el calor del sol para calentar sus cuerpos, o se esconden debajo la tierra, debajo una piedra o en el agua para refrescar sus cuerpos.

Crocodiles and alligators are large reptiles that spend much of their time on land and in water. They can walk on land using their webbed feet. They can also use their long tail to swim in water. Crocodiles feed on large animals they catch on land or in water. They have powerful jaws and teeth to tear apart their prey.Lizards and snakes are the largest group of reptiles. Lizards are four legged animals with a long tail. Many lizards can shed their tail to escape from predators. They can then grow a new tail.Some lizards, such as the chameleon, can change colors to blend into their environment. This camouflage helps to protect them from predators.

Los cocodrilos y caimanes son reptiles grandes que pasan mucho de su tiempo en tierra y en agua. Ellos pueden caminar en tierra usando sus patas palmeadas. Ellos también pueden usar sus largas colas para nadar en agua. Los cocodrilos se comen animales grandes que pueden agarrar en tierra o en agua. Tienen bocas y dientes fuertes para poder despedazar sus presas. Lagartos y culebras son el grupo más grande de los reptiles. Lagartos son animales de cuatros patas con colas largas. Muchos lagartos pueden perder su cola para escapar sus depredadores. A ellos les crecen nuevas colas.Algunos lagartos, como el camaleón, pueden cambiar colores para mezclarse con su medio ambiente. Este camuflaje les ayuda a protegerse de los depredadores.

Snakes don't have limbs. They move by slithering along the ground.Some snakes are poisonous, or venomous, such as the rattle snake, cobra, and eastern green mamba. They have fangs which bite into their prey and inject poison into the victim. Other snakes, such as the boa constrictor and the python kill their prey by crushing it. Most snakes can dislocate their jaw, allowing them to swallow prey much larger than themselves.

Las culebras no tienen miembros. Ellos se mueven deslizándose por el piso. Algunas de las culebras son venenosas como las rattle snake, la cobra, o la mamba verde del este. Ellos tienen barros las cuales muerden a sus presas y les inyectan veneno a sus víctimas.Otras culebras, como el boa constrictor y el pitón matan a sus presas aplastándolas. Muchas de las culebras pueden dislocar sus mandíbulas, permitiéndoles poder tragarse las presas más grandes que ellos.

Birds - Aves

There are over 8,000 species of birds. Birds have 3 major differentiating characteristics: wings for flight, feathers, and a beak rather than teeth.

Birds have adapted their vertebrate skeleton for flight. Their bones and skull are very thin, making their bodies extremely light.

A bird's respiratory system is adapted to make it easier to breathe at high elevations, where air is thinner.

Hay más de 8,000 especies de aves. Aves tiene 3 características mayores que las diferencian: alas para volar, plumas, y un pico en vez de dientes.

Aves han adaptado sus esqueletos vertebrado para volar. Sus huesos y cráneo son muy delgados, haciendo que sus cuerpos sean livianos.

El sistema respiratorio de un ave es adaptado para que puedan respirar más fácil en altas elevaciones, donde el aire es más liviano.

Mammals – Mamíferos

Mammals have several unique characteristics that differentiate them from other animals. Most mammals have hair, or fur, covering their body. They are also capable of regulating their body temperature. The mammals metabolism controls heat production, and the sweat glands help cool the body. These allow the mammal to maintain a constant body temperature, regardless of the environmental temperature. One other difference is that mammals give birth to fully formed babies, and the female mammals produce milk to feed their young. Most mammals walk on 4 legs, with only the humans walking upright on 2 legs. Aquatic mammals have flippers, or fins, for swimming rather than legs. Common mammals include: primates, such humans and monkeys; marsupials; rodents; whales; dolphins; and, seals.

Mammals have several unique characteristics that differentiate them from other animals. Most mammals have hair, or fur, covering their body. They are also capable of regulating their body temperature. The mammals metabolism controls heat production, and the sweat glands help cool the body. These allow the mammal to maintain a constant body temperature, regardless of the environmental temperature. One other difference is that mammals give birth to fully formed babies, and the female mammals produce milk to feed their young. Most mammals walk on 4 legs, with only the humans walking upright on 2 legs. Aquatic mammals have flippers, or fins, for swimming rather than legs. Common mammals include: primates, such humans and monkeys; marsupials; rodents; whales; dolphins; and, seals.