Biology: vertebrates

[Jux]

If you were to say that a vertebrate had a spinal chord, would that be wrong and if so, why?

Yes. Unless they're a musician.

Obviously musicians are excluded.

I'm not sure they have central nervous systems of any sort.

It would be wrong. Vertebrates have a back bone. Jellyfish have a spinal cord but are not vertebrates. It's the boney bit that counts !

Thank you, mumsneedwine.

Are you getting confused with Chordata - the phylum (group) of animals that contains true vertebrates and the Sea Squirts?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chordata

All of these have a notochord which is basically a hollow space containing the spinal cord. In true vertebrates this is made of bone or cartilage.

It was a science test in which dd - usually super-whizz science geek - did rather badly. They were told to go over their papers and correct them for homework.

The question of the difference between vertebrates and invertebrates was the one she had trouble with. She had said vertebrates have a spinal column and spinal chord (I think she was anxious and over-compensating). I couldn't really remember and googled, as did she, but we didn't find anything that we felt utterly confident about. So, of course I turn to MN, knowing that someone (at least one!) will come and tell me exactly what she needed to know.

So thank you!