Biodiversity , a contraction of "biological diversity," generally refers to

the variety and variability of life on Earth. One of the most widely
used definitions defines it in terms of the variability within species,
between species and between ecosystems.[1] It is a measure of the
variety of organisms present in different ecosystems. This can refer
to genetic variation, ecosystem variation, or species variation (number
of species)[1] within an area, biome, or planet. Terrestrial biodiversity
tends to be greater near the equator,[2] which seems to be the result
of the warm climate and high primary productivity.[3] Biodiversity is
not distributed evenly on Earth. It is richest in the tropics. Marine
biodiversity tends to be highest along coasts in the Western Pacific,
where sea surface temperature is highest and in the mid-latitudinal
band in all oceans. There are latitudinal gradients in species diversity.
[4] Biodiversity generally tends to cluster in hotspots,[5] and has been
increasing through time,[6][7] but will be likely to slow in the future.[8]
The number and variety of plants, animals and other organisms that
exist is known as biodiversity. It is an essential component of nature
and it ensures the survival of human species by providing food, fuel,
shelter, medicines and other resources to mankind. The richness of
biodiversity depends on the climatic conditions and area of the region.
All species of plants taken together are known as flora and about
300,000 species of plants are known to date. All species of animals
taken together are known as fauna which includes birds, mammals, fish,
reptiles, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.

Vertebrates Temporal range: Cambrian - Vertebrates.png Individual

organisms from each major vertebrate group. Clockwise, starting from
top left: Fire salamander (Amphibia), saltwater crocodile (Reptilia),
southern cassowary (Aves), black-and-rufous giant elephant shrew
(Mammalia), ocean sunfish (Osteichthyes) Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Clade: Craniata Subphylum:
Vertebrata J-B. Lamarck, 1801[2] Simplified grouping (see text) Fishes
Tetrapods Synonyms Ossea Batsch, 1788[2] Vertebrates /vrtbrts/
comprise all species of animals within the subphylum Vertebrata /-/
(chordates with backbones). Vertebrates represent the overwhelming
majority of the phylum Chordata, with currently about 66,000 species
described.[3] Vertebrates include the jawless fish and the jawed
vertebrates, which include the cartilaginous fish (sharks, rays, and
ratfish) and the bony fish. A bony fish clade known as the lobe-finned
fishes is included with tetrapods, which are further divided into
amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds. Extant vertebrates range in
size from the frog species Paedophryne amauensis, at as little as 7.7
mm (0.30 in), to the blue whale, at up to 33 m (108 ft). Vertebrates
make up less than five percent of all described animal species; the rest
are invertebrates, which lack vertebral columns. The vertebrates
traditionally include the hagfish, which do not have proper vertebrae
due to their loss in evolution,[4] though their closest living relatives,
the lampreys, do.[5] Hagfish do, however, possess a cranium. For this
reason, the vertebrate subphylum is sometimes referred to as
"Craniata" when discussing morphology. Molecular analysis since 1992
has suggested that hagfish are most closely related to lampreys,[6]
and so also are vertebrates in a monophyletic sense. Others consider
them a sister group of vertebrates in the common taxon of craniata.
bird (brd) n. 1. a. Any of various warm-blooded egg-laying feathered
vertebrates of the class Aves, having forelimbs modified to form
wings. b. Such an animal hunted as game. c. Such an animal, especially a
chicken or turkey, used as food: put the bird in the oven.
Characteristics of a Bird

What is a bird? To identify an animal as a bird, it should

have these characteristics:
Feathers! All birds have feathers.
Birds have a backbone.
They are vertebrates.
All birds are warm-blooded. They can regulate their body
temperature. Female birds lay eggs.
Their young develop inside of the egg.
Birds have wings, but not all birds use them to fly.
Penguins and ostriches are examples of birds that do not
fly. Some common birds are blue jays, pigeons, eagles,
vultures, mallards and hummingbirds