as in animals
biology
an animal that has a backbone
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Recent Examples of vertebrates
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
Most early jawless fishes had torsos leading continuously to the head, whereas jawed vertebrates evolved a neck and throat.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2025
However, our brains and those of other vertebrates are complex, three-dimensional structures, and so embedding any electrodes into their interiors would inflict at least some damage during implantation.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 June 2025
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
Most early jawless fishes had torsos leading continuously to the head, whereas jawed vertebrates evolved a neck and throat.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2025
However, our brains and those of other vertebrates are complex, three-dimensional structures, and so embedding any electrodes into their interiors would inflict at least some damage during implantation.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vertebrates
Noun
-
From a young age, I was captivated by animals, plants and fairytales.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Watercolor and ink are his favorite tools, and nature — with its plants and animals — remains his main source of inspiration.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Why not dogs or children or creatures from another planet?—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
6 Sep. 2025
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The fossils prove that small, fragile creatures existed in the Mesozoic era.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The event will feature fun and creative stations with spiderweb paintings, bubble potions and live encounters with some of the museum’s resident critters.—
Virginia Brown,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Sep. 2025
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Whether birds or moths in the attic, a raccoon in the garage, or mice in the basement, critters aren't concerned with taking care of your belongings.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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Unlike most quadrupeds, CARA doesn’t use any gears or pulleys.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vertebrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vertebrates. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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