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Which animal groups are included among vertebrates?
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Animal
The fallow deer (Dama dama) has been introduced in many areas ever since the Neolithic Period.
Vertebrates are members of the subphylum Vertebrata, which belongs to the phylum Chordata. They are defined by the presence of a backbone, which houses part of the central nervous system.1
The subphylum includes the following major groups:
- Fishes: Comprising the classes Agnatha (jawless fishes), Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes), and Osteichthyes (bony fishes).1
- Amphibians: The class Amphibia.1
- Reptiles: The class Reptilia.1
- Birds: The class Aves.1
- Mammals: The class Mammalia.1
These groups encompass more than 76,000 living species that have adapted to diverse environments across the globe, ranging from the smallest fishes to the largest animals to have ever existed, such as whales.2