as in animals
biology
an animal that has a backbone
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Recent Examples of vertebrates
The species feeds by relying on symbiotic bacteria to break down fats inside the bones of large vertebrates, like whales.
—
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
This suggests that a role in the development of this region for hox genes is the ancestral state, and was present prior to the limbed vertebrates diverging from fish.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
The playful creatures are prey to foxes, jaguars, and even at times humans, but tend to eat insects, plants, roots and smaller vertebrates, the zoo said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Eel evolution The study also provides insights into evolution, suggesting that early vertebrates might not have needed to develop entirely new neural circuits to move on land.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
The only terrestrial vertebrates that both lived near and are believed to have survived the Chicxulub Impact are night lizards.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
First, there were vertebrates like us, but also birds and other mammals.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
The blood-testing organs don’t measure water levels but rather the concentration of salt, whose healthy range lies at almost exactly the same concentration as that of the brackish intertidal water in which vertebrates first evolved (which is about one-third as salty as seawater).
—Dan Samorodnitsky, Quanta Magazine, 11 Aug. 2025
An independent review of the evidence for sentience in animals such as octopuses, crabs and lobsters, led by Birch, contributed to these species being granted greater protection alongside all vertebrates in 2022 under the UK Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act.
—Mariana Lenharo & Nature Magazine, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2025
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
This suggests that a role in the development of this region for hox genes is the ancestral state, and was present prior to the limbed vertebrates diverging from fish.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
The playful creatures are prey to foxes, jaguars, and even at times humans, but tend to eat insects, plants, roots and smaller vertebrates, the zoo said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Eel evolution The study also provides insights into evolution, suggesting that early vertebrates might not have needed to develop entirely new neural circuits to move on land.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
The only terrestrial vertebrates that both lived near and are believed to have survived the Chicxulub Impact are night lizards.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
First, there were vertebrates like us, but also birds and other mammals.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
The blood-testing organs don’t measure water levels but rather the concentration of salt, whose healthy range lies at almost exactly the same concentration as that of the brackish intertidal water in which vertebrates first evolved (which is about one-third as salty as seawater).
—Dan Samorodnitsky, Quanta Magazine, 11 Aug. 2025
An independent review of the evidence for sentience in animals such as octopuses, crabs and lobsters, led by Birch, contributed to these species being granted greater protection alongside all vertebrates in 2022 under the UK Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act.
—Mariana Lenharo & Nature Magazine, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vertebrates
Noun
-
These additives are turning up everywhere, from air and water to soil, and are suspected endocrine disruptors that interfere with hormones in humans and animals.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
-
It's known for its 25,000 large animals, with over 1 million wildebeest and 72,000 zebras, according UNESCO World Heritage.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In the absence of whales, sucker fish avoid predators by seeking other large creatures to latch onto, including manta rays, dolphins and unlucky scuba divers.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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That means algae could grow in larger volumes, feeding more creatures and even possibly shifting how carbon moves through the ocean.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
SpongeBob is back, as are the colorful critters living in Zootopia.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
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Making the area around fruit trees less attractive to critters also deters them.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The exploit impacts Unitree’s Go2 and B2 quadrupeds and G1 and H1 humanoids.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
25 Sep. 2025
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Developed by companies like Boston Dynamics, these quadrupeds are a viable solution for targeting mosquito habitats in harder-to-reach areas.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Abby’s Magical Beasties, where one of the beasties goes missing, and Abby must problem-solve.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In a horrific twist, Kasumi (Kana Hanazawa) wakes up way too early — and thus has to battle the ferocious beasties to survive.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vertebrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vertebrates. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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