Animal Body Groups
Describe and compare the external body structure of common animals across groups (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals)
What a learner can do afterwards
- Describe key structural features of at least three animal groups (e.g. scales, feathers, fur)
- Compare two animals from different groups, noting at least two differences
- Use words like 'wings', 'fins', 'legs', 'tail' correctly when describing an animal
1 · Read
Animals come in many groups. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are five groups. Each group has body parts that make it special.
Look at a fish and a bird. A fish has scales and fins. A bird has feathers and wings. They look very different.
Fish have scales and fins. Amphibians have smooth, wet skin. Reptiles have dry, scaly skin. Birds have feathers and wings. Mammals have fur or hair to keep warm.
Look at a snake and a dog. The snake has scales and no legs. The dog has fur and four legs. Two animals, two very different bodies.
When you describe an animal, use the right words. Say wings, fins, legs, or tail. These words help others picture the animal you mean.
Every animal group has its own body parts, like scales, feathers, fur, wings, or fins.
More to read
15.6 Vertebrates
Animals with a backbone are called vertebrates. Fish, frogs, lizards, birds, and dogs all have backbones. But their outsides look very different.
Fish live in water. They have scales on their skin. They have fins to swim. A tail pushes them through the water.
Amphibians like frogs have smooth, wet skin. They have no scales. They have legs to hop and to swim.
Reptiles like snakes and lizards have dry, scaly skin. Many reptiles have four legs. Snakes have no legs at all.
Birds have feathers. They have two wings and two legs. They have a beak instead of teeth.
Mammals like dogs, cats, and whales have fur or hair. Most mammals have four legs. Whales have flippers instead.
You can tell the groups apart by looking at their skin and body parts.
29.4 Reptiles
Reptiles are animals like snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles. They all have dry skin covered in scales. The scales keep their bodies from drying out on land.
Most reptiles have four legs with claws. Snakes are reptiles with no legs. They slide along on their bellies.
Reptiles lay eggs on land. The eggs have a tough shell that keeps the baby inside safe and moist.
Reptiles are cold-blooded. Their bodies do not make their own heat. So they lie in the sun to warm up and rest in the shade to cool down.
Turtles have a special body part: a hard shell. The shell is part of their body and keeps them safe.
When you see an animal with dry scales, claws, and eggs on land, you are probably looking at a reptile.
Explore more
2 · Watch
به انگلیسیTake it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
This opens up
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.