Classes of Vertebrates

Classes of Vertebrates

To the tune of “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor

[Verse 1]
Agnatha have no jaw
Include the hagfish and lamprey
Jawed vertebrates are Gnathostomata
This group can further subdivide

[Verse 2]
Into the Chondrichthyans
With skeletons of cartilage
And the group known as Osteichthyans
With a skeleton of bones inside

[Chorus]
This group can be further split up into
Ray finned fishes — Actinopterygii
The Teleosts are a member of this group
Everyone else has lobe finned limbs, Sarcopterygii

[Verse 3]
This group consists of
Actinistia and Dipnoid
And the Tetrapoda
Which are terrestrial adults

[Chorus]
This further splits into the Amphibians
Which must develop in water
And Amniota which develop on land
With the protection of their amnion

[Verse 4]
Two groups of Amniota
The Sauropsids and Synapsids
Sauropsids are the Reptilia
Turtles, Lepidosaurs, and Archosaurs

[Chorus]
Mammals are the only extant synapsid group
Include Monotremes, Marsupials, and Placentals
Synapomorphic traits of this clade in include
Mammary glands, and hair, and the synapsid skull