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Why are mammals considered the most advanced vertebrates?
Mammals are regarded as the most advanced animal because they are the most recently evolved vertebrates who have the most advanced, complex brain, are the only animals that produce milk for their young ones, and give birth to babies.
What feature makes mammals more developed than other vertebrates?
All of these characteristics (hair, maintaining a constant body temperature, production of milk, internal fertilization, young born fully developed, highly developed circulatory and respiratory systems, larger brain size, and differences in the size and function of teeth) make mammal species unique among the …
Why did mammals become so successful?
The success of mammals can be explained by three factors. They can can live in all habitats thanks to being warm-blooded, their behaviour is complex and adaptable thanks to their large brains and long period of parental care and their teeth are highly adaptable for a broad range of diets.
What makes mammals different from other vertebrates?
Mammals differ from other vertebrate animals in that their young are nourished with milk from special mammary glands of the mother. Mature red blood cells (erythrocytes) in all mammals lack a nucleus; all other vertebrates have nucleated red blood cells.
Are there any vertebrates that are now living?
The vertebrate species now living represent only a small portion of the vertebrates that have existed. The best-known extinct vertebrates are the dinosaurs, a unique group of reptiles, reaching sizes not seen before or since in terrestrial animals.
How many vertebrates are there in the animal kingdom?
Vertebrates are among the most recognizable organisms of the animal kingdom ( [Figure 1] ). More than 62,000 vertebrate species have been identified. The vertebrate species now living represent only a small portion of the vertebrates that have existed.
What are the best-known extinct vertebrates?
The best-known extinct vertebrates are the dinosaurs, a unique group of reptiles, reaching sizes not seen before or since in terrestrial animals. They were the dominant terrestrial animals for 150 million years, until they died out near the end of the Cretaceous period in a mass extinction.
What is the largest class of vertebrates?
Members of the clade Osteichthyes, or bony fishes, are characterized by a bony skeleton. The vast majority of present-day fishes belong to this group, which consists of approximately 30,000 species, making it the largest class of vertebrates in existence today.