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 …

Oct 28, 2025 · They have backbones, from which they derive their name. The vertebrates are also characterized by a muscular system consisting primarily of bilaterally paired masses and a …

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 …

Mar 17, 2025 · Vertebrates are a diverse group of animals characterized by having backbones, internal skeletons, well-developed brains, and bilateral symmetry. They belong to the phylum …

Thus, vertebrates refer to animals with a characteristic bony or cartilaginous axial endoskeleton known as the vertebral column, spine, or backbone. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and …

Sep 17, 2012 · What Are Vertebrates? Vertebrates are animals that have backbones inside their bodies. “Vertebrates use their backbones for movement and support,” explains the American …

Vertebrates are among the most recognizable organisms of the animal kingdom (Figure 1). More than 62,000 vertebrate species have been identified. The vertebrate species now living …

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.

Vertebrates are distinguished by shared characteristics that appear at some stage of their development. A defining feature is the vertebral column, or backbone, which provides …

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 …