animals having a bony or cartilaginous skeleton with a segmented spinal column and a large brain enclosed in a skull or cranium having a backbone or spinal column; "fishes and amphibians and reptiles and birds and mammals are verbetrate animals
Any animal belonging to Vertebrata, characterized by internal skeleton of cartilage or bone, and specialized organization of the anterior end of the animal
Animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata, including the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, all of which are characterized by having a segmented bony or cartilaginous spinal column
A vertebrate is a creature which has a spine. Mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish are vertebrates. invertebrate. a living creature that has a backbone invertebrate. Any animal of the chordate subphylum Vertebrata, which includes the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Vertebrates have an internal skeleton formed of cartilage, bone, or both. The skeleton consists of a backbone (vertebral column), which partly encloses a spinal cord; a skull, which encloses the brain; and usually two pairs of limbs. Nerves extending from the spinal cord and brain permeate the skin, muscles, and internal organs. The muscular system consists primarily of bilaterally paired masses attached to bones or cartilage. Skin and scales, feathers, fur, or hair cover the outer surface. See also invertebrate