Question

Differentiate between vertebrates and invertebrates.

• A. (i) Vertebrates: (a) Notochord is present, (b) True internal skeleton present.
  (ii) Invertebrates:(a) Notochord is absent, (b) No true internal skeleton present.
• B. (i) Vertebrates: (a) Notochord is absent, (b) No true internal skeleton present.
  (ii) Invertebrates: (a) Notochord is present, (b) True internal skeleton present.
• C. (i) Vertebrates: (a) Nervechord is present, (b) True internal skeleton present.
  (ii) Invertebrates:(a) Notochord is absent, (b) No true internal skeleton present.
• D. (i) Vertebrates: (a) Nervechord is present, (b) True internal skeleton present.
  (ii) Invertebrates:(a) Notochord is absent, (b) True internal skeleton present.

Answer 1

The correct option is A (i) Vertebrates: (a) Notochord is present, (b) True internal skeleton present.

(ii) Invertebrates:(a) Notochord is absent, (b) No true internal skeleton present.

• Vertebrates have a backbone with a spinal cord, whereas invertebrates do not.
  
• The diversity is exceptionally high among the invertebrates compared to vertebrates.
  
• Vertebrates are always bilaterally symmetrical, while invertebrates could show either bilateral or radial symmetry.
  
• Vertebrates are usually large-bodied and move fast compared to invertebrates.
• Vertebrates have a closed blood system, a well-developed brain, either gills or lungs for respiration, and a complex and sophisticated nervous system, whereas those are primitive in invertebrates. Therefore, it concerns that vertebrates have many specializations to extract the best out of the environment compared to invertebrates.
• Despite all these changes, someone could draw a point that invertebrates are more adaptive due to their simplicity, whereas vertebrates do not have good adaptability in comparison because of the specialization. However, I would like to quote a popular quote to finish that in evolution specialization paralyzes and ultra specialization kills the viability of taxons.