as in animals
biology
an animal that has a backbone
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Recent Examples of vertebrates
More than 18,000 fish species live in the freshwater systems around the world -- accounting for nearly 25% of all vertebrates on the planet, according to the paper.
—
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 24 Sep. 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, 24 Sep. 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
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Researchers treated 12-month-old mice (similar to a 60-year-old human) with the nanoparticles and monitored the animals’ behavior and memory over several months.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Oct. 2025
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Although fur farms are banned in many countries, millions of animals are killed every year for their pelts, which are used in clothing, according to animal welfare charity Humane Society International.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The game asked children to order bunnylike creatures from shortest to tallest by clicking on their sneakers to swap their places.—
Celeste Kidd,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
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Guides aim to maintain at least a 100-meter (328-feet) buffer, but curious creatures don’t always comply.—
Susan Portnoy,
AFAR Media,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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When searching through the forest for new and unique critters, sometimes the best place to look is up.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
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During the surprising snake sighting, New Yorkers watched the reptile cross a city street, according to Puppy Kitty NY City's Instagram post about the slithering critters.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 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
Cite this Entry
“Vertebrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vertebrates. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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