Vertebrate Identifier
Found an animal with a backbone? Use this tool to figure out if it is a mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, or fish.
🔍 Step-by-Step Identifier
Step-by-Step Identifier
Follow the numbered steps to identify the creature you found!
1
Does it have fur or hair?
Yes:Mammal 🦊
No:Go to step 2
2
Does it have feathers?
Yes:Bird 🐦
No:Go to step 3
3
Does it have dry, scaly skin?
Yes:Reptile 🦎
No:Go to step 4
4
Does it have fins and live entirely underwater?
Yes:Fish 🐟
No:Amphibian 🐸
Identification Guide
🦊
Mammal
Warm-blooded, has fur or hair, and feeds milk to its babies.
🐦
Bird
Warm-blooded, has feathers, wings, and lays hard-shelled eggs.
🦎
Reptile
Cold-blooded, has dry scaly skin, and usually lays leathery eggs.
🐸
Amphibian
Cold-blooded, starts life in water with gills, later grows lungs.
🐟
Fish
Cold-blooded, lives in water, breathes with gills, and has fins.