Vertebrate (Noun)
Meaning
Animals having a bony or cartilaginous skeleton with a segmented spinal column and a large brain enclosed in a skull or cranium.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- All mammals are vertebrates, possessing a complex brain and central nervous system enclosed within a sturdy skull.
- In terms of evolutionary adaptations, vertebrates have developed a wide range of specialized senses to interact with their environments.
- Some aquatic vertebrates, such as fish and dolphins, have unique physiological features to cope with the demands of living underwater.
- A key characteristic that distinguishes vertebrates from invertebrates is the presence of a backbone that provides structural support and protection.
- Humans and other vertebrates have unique patterns of locomotion and sensory perception that set them apart from other animal phyla.