This document summarizes key characteristics of vertebrates like fish, sharks, skates, and rays. It notes that vertebrates have backbones and internal skeletons, compared to invertebrates. Within fish, it distinguishes primitive jawless fish from sharks and rays that have cartilage skeletons and jaws. It provides details on sharks' streamlined bodies, sensing abilities, reproduction, and need to constantly swim due to their density. Skates and rays are described as flattened like stingrays with different swimming and reproductive behaviors.