Chapter 34: The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Chapter 34: The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

31.1 Identify key derived characters of chordates.
31.2 Describe the evolutionary history of vertebrates.
31.3 Describe gnathostomes and explain the evolutionary advantages of having jaws.
31.4 Explain how the first tetrapods may have arisen.
31.5 Identify key derived characters of amniotes and give examples of amniote groups.
31.6 Differentiate between monotremes, marsupials, and eutherian mammals.
This chapter focuses on vertebrate groups and their evolution. We have selected key information
in this chapter to give you an overview of the evolution of chordates. A biologically literate per-
son should know features that make life on land possible for animals, as well as adaptations that
have occurred over time leading to the many diverse groups. How are amphibians different from
reptiles? Is a salamander a reptile or an amphibian? Why?

Study Tip: Like Chapter 33 on the evolution of invertebrates, this chapter on chordates is orga-
nized by the evolution of unique characters. Match the Key Concepts on p. 718 with the phyloge-
netic trees in Figures 34.1 and 34.2 in your text. As each evolutionary novel feature appears, no-
tice the increasing diversity of organisms.

Both mammals and reptiles have an amniotic egg, but what separates the mammals from the rep-
tiles?

Concept 34.1 Chordates have a notochord and a dorsal, hollow nerve cord

LO 34.1: Identify key derived characters of chordates.

1. We are vertebrates. What phylum do we belong to?

2. Based on Figure 34.2 in your text, what phylum would be considered the closest
relative to phylum Chordata? _________________ Why?

3. Here is a figure showing the four key chordate characteristics. Label and explain each one.

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 Chapter 34: The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

4. One of the important characteristics is a notochord. What is a notochord?

5. For us, as vertebrates, what remains of the notochord? Take note of the fact that a noto-
chord is not a spinal cord!

6. Chordates are the first group to show a dorsal nerve cord. Which embryonic layer forms
the nerve cord?

7. Pharyngeal gill slits are one of the chordate characteristics you noted in question 3. What
do the gill slits become in tetrapods?

8. Lancelets are the _________________ group to all other living chordates. Why are
lancelets considered chordates?

9.
a. Explain the phylogenetic status of tunicates.
b. What happens to most of the chordate characteristics as tunicates change from larvae to
adults?

Concept 34.2 Vertebrates are chordates that have a backbone

L0 34.2: Describe the evolutionary history of vertebrates.

Review “shared derived characters” and know how they differ from “shared ancestral charac-
ters.” See p. 560.

10. What is structurally unique about lampreys and hagfishes compared to other vertebrates?
11. Explain how lampreys feed and what impact this has had on the fishing industry in the
Great Lakes.

Concept 34.3 Gnathostomes are vertebrates that have jaws

LO 34.3: Describe gnathostomes and explain the evolutionary advantages of having jaws.

12. Gnatho means “jaw,” and stome means “mouth.” This group includes the sharks, fishes, am-
phibians, reptiles (including birds), and mammals. List the three derived characters of
gnathostomes and cite the importance of each.

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 Chapter 34: The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

13. What animals are in the clade Chondrichthyes?

14. What does the name Chondrichthyes mean? What material makes up the skeleton of a
member of this clade?

15. Why do sharks have to swim continuously?

16. What is a cloaca? What three body systems empty into a cloaca?

17. The “fishes” with a bone skeleton are aquatic Osteichthyes. How do they breathe?

18. What is the function of a swim bladder?

19. Why was the discovery of a coelacanth such a surprise to both scientists and the general
public?

Concept 34.4 Tetrapods are gnathostomes that have limbs

LO 34.4: Explain how the first tetrapods may have arisen.

20. One of the most significant events in vertebrate history was the evolution of tetrapods.
What does tetrapod mean?

21. Using Figure 34.20 in your text of the “fishapod” named Tiktaalik, sketch the pectoral fin
skeleton and label the bones.

a. How do the bones of Tiktaalik compare to the bones in your arm?

b. How do the skeletal features of Tiktaalik illustrate Darwin’s concept of descent with
modification?

c. What is the most significant derived character of tetrapods? (The derivation of this char-
acter is clearly shown in Figure 34.21 in your text.)

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 Chapter 34: The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

22. The amphibians form three clades. List them and give a defining feature and an example.

Amphibian Clade Defining Feature/Representative Example

23. What does the name Amphibia mean?

24. Most frogs have a life cycle with an aquatic larval stage, the tadpole. How do tadpoles
breathe? What do they eat?

25. What changes occur in the adult frog’s anatomy during metamorphosis?

26. Fertilization in most amphibians is _____________. The eggs lack a shell, and mortality is
very high.

27. What two factors tie many amphibians to moist, high humidity environments?

28. What factors have led to the worldwide decline in amphibian populations?

Concept 34.5 Amniotes are tetrapods that have a terrestrially adapted egg

LO 34.5: Identify key derived characters of amniotes and give examples of amniote groups.

29.

a. What is the major derived character of the amniote clade?

b. How has it enabled reptiles (and a few mammals) to occupy a wider range of terrestrial
habitats than amphibians?

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 Chapter 34: The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

30. Use Figure 34.26 in your text to help label the four extraembryonic membranes seen in an
amniotic egg and explain the role of each one.

31. What animals are in the reptile clade?

32. List 3 characteristics of most reptiles. For each, give the evolutionary advantage of the char-
acteristic.

33. Which members of the reptile clade are ectothermic? Which are endothermic?

34. If you have a pet dog or cat it requires feeding every day, but a snake is only fed once a
week. Explain why this is so.

35. Here is a short list of some reptile groups. For each group, give some important features
that make them unique.
turtles
lizards
snakes
alligators and crocodiles
birds
36. Many of the characters of birds are adaptations that facilitate flight. What are four avian
adaptations for flight?

Adaptations for Flight

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 Chapter 34: The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Adaptations for Flight

37. What evolutionary advantages are offered by flight?

38. Discuss the statement that birds are the only living dinosaurs.

Concept 34.6 Mammals are amniotes that have hair and produce milk

LO 34.6: Differentiate between monotremes, marsupials, and eutherian mammals.

39. Make a list of the characteristics of mammals that have made them a successful clade. Put
an asterisk (*) next to the traits that are shared derived characters of mammals.

40. There are three groups of mammals. Contrast the groups based on how they bear young and
give an example of each group.

Mammalian Group Reproduction Example

Monotremes
Marsupials
Eutherians

41. Examine Figure 34.41 in your text. Explain why the marsupials in the left column so
closely resemble the eutherians on the right.

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