Describe four features that can be used to identify an organism as a vertebrate rather than an arthropod.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
Model answer (4 marks)
1. A backbone or internal skeleton made of bone or cartilage
2. No exoskeleton or hard external cuticle
3. No clearly segmented body with jointed limbs
4. Internal skeleton rather than an external one
2. No exoskeleton or hard external cuticle
3. No clearly segmented body with jointed limbs
4. Internal skeleton rather than an external one
Examiner tips
- Use the word "backbone" or "internal skeleton" first Include the absence of an exoskeleton Mention the lack of segmentation/jointed limbs Show contrast with arthropods
Common mistakes
- Confusing internal skeleton with external skeleton Mentioning a vertebrate’s external features only Using vague terms like "body plan" without specifying segmentation
Mark scheme (4 marks)
- Vertebrates have a backbone / internal skeleton, whereas arthropods do not
- Vertebrates do not have an exoskeleton / hard external skeleton / cuticle (arthropods do)
- Vertebrates do not have a segmented body in the arthropod sense / arthropods have a clearly segmented body with jointed limbs
- Vertebrates have an internal skeleton made of bone or cartilage / arthropods are invertebrates (lack a backbone)
Key terms in this question
Related
- All Cambridge International IGCSE Biology (0610) revision notes →
- How to answer a "Describe" question →
- Decode the mark scheme abbreviations →
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