Vertebrates (/ ˈvɜːrtəbrɪt, - ˌbreɪt /), [3] also called craniates, are animals with a vertebral column and a cranium. The vertebral column surrounds and protects the spinal cord, while the cranium protects the …

Dec 15, 2025 · Vertebrate, any animal of the subphylum Vertebrata. They have backbones and are also characterized by a muscular system consisting primarily of bilaterally paired masses and a central …

The term ‘Vertebrate’ is derived from the Latin word’ vertebratus,’ which means ‘joint of the spine.’ Thus, vertebrates refer to animals with a characteristic bony or cartilaginous axial endoskeleton known as …

Vertebrates, which include fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals, all share a vertebral column, or a chain of bony elements (vertebrae) that run along the dorsal surface from head to tail …

Mar 17, 2025 · Vertebrates are classified into five main groups: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, each with unique features and adaptations to their habitats. Vertebrates display diverse …

: any of a subphylum (Vertebrata) of chordates that comprises animals (such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) typically having a bony or cartilaginous spinal column which …

Aug 14, 2025 · Understand the fundamental characteristics, vast diversity, and evolutionary history of vertebrates in the animal kingdom.

Vertebrates have a long history on this earth -- more than 500 million years, from the late Cambrian up to today. These first vertebrates lacked jaws, like the living hagfish and lampreys. Jawed vertebrates …

Vertebrates are among the most complex and fascinating organisms on Earth. Characterized by their backbone or vertebral column, they belong to the subphylum Vertebrata within the phylum Chordata. …

Jun 29, 2022 · There are five main groups of vertebrates: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Vertebrates can be either cold-blooded (ectothermic) or warm-blooded (endothermic). …