Craniata (or Vertebrata)

Definition

Craniata, also known as Vertebrata, are a subphylum of chordates that possess a distinct skull. They include all animals with backbones.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Craniata have a well-defined head region with sensory organs and a brain encased in a skull.
2. They possess an endoskeleton made of either cartilage or bone.
3. The group includes classes such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
4. Craniates exhibit complex organ systems including circulatory, respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems.
5. They undergo significant cephalization, which is the concentration of nerve tissues at the anterior end.

Review Questions

Related terms

Chordates:

Animals that possess a notochord at some stage of their development.

Endoskeleton:

An internal skeleton built from bone or cartilage.

Cephalization:

The evolutionary trend where nervous tissue becomes concentrated toward one end of an organism, forming a head region.