Answer:
1. The word vertebrate derives from the Latin word vertebratus (Pliny), meaning joint of the spine. Vertebrate is derived from the word vertebra, which refers to any of the bones or segments of the spinal column.
2.As chordates, vertebrates have the same common features: a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail.
3.The bones of the vertebrate skull protect the brain. In the more advanced vertebrates and invertebrates, many skeletal structures provide a rigid base for the insertion of muscles as well as providing protection.
4.Vertebrates reproduce sexually, and almost all of them have separate male and female sexes. Recall that sexual reproduction is the joining of gametes during fertilization, producing genetically variable offspring. Generally, aquatic species have external fertilization, whereas terrestrial species have internal fertilization. Can you think of a reason why aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates differ in this way?
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