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Encyclopedia: Vertebrate

Vertebrates are members of the subphylum Vertebrata (within the phylum Chordata), specifically, those chordates with backbones or spinal columns. About 57,739 species of vertebrates have been described. Vertebrates started to evolve about 530 million years ago during the Cambrian explosion, which is part of the Cambrian period (first known vertebrate is Myllokunmingia). Their name derives from the bones of the spinal column (or vertebral column), the vertebrae. Vertebrata is the largest subphylum of chordates, and contains many familiar groups of large land animals. Fish (including lampreys, but traditionally not hagfish, though this is now disputed), amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals (including humans) are vertebrates. Characteristics of the subphylum are a muscular system that mostly consists of paired masses, as well as a central nervous system which is partly located inside the backbone (if one is present). Usually, the defining characteristic of a vertebrate is considered the backbone or spinal cord, a brain case, and an internal skeleton, but the latter do not hold true for lampreys, and the former is arguably present in some other chordates. Rather, all vertebrates are most easily distinguished from all other chordates by having an unequivocal head, that is, sensory organs - especially eyes are concentrated at the fore end of the body and there is pronounced cephalization. Compare the lancelets which have a mouth but no true head, and "see" with their entire back.

Translations

How to say "Vertebrate" in other languages:

	(Chinese)	脊椎動物
	(Japanese)	脊椎動物
	(German)	Wirbeltiere
	(Spanish)	Vertebrata
	(French)	Vertebrés
	(Italian)	Vertebrata

Search results

Mandibula

The Mandibula is the lower jaw bone in vertebrates...

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Axial skeleton

The axial skeleton is the bones constituting the head and trunk of a vertebrate body...

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Euteleostomi

Eukaryota > Metazoa > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata > Euteleostomi Euteleostomi is a group of vertebrates that contains: Actinopterygii Actinopteri Chondrostei Neopterygii Polypteriformes... Tetrapoda Amniota Amphibia They are known as bony vertebrates...

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Transducin

"Transducin" is the name given to the G-protein "alpha-subunits" that are naturally expressed in vertebrate retina rods and cones...

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Chordate

Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrate... the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. They are united by having, at... but no vertebrae. In vertebrates, the notochord has been replaced by a bony vertebral column. The...

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Alfred Romer

comparative anatomist and a specialist in vertebrate evolution. Alfred Romer was born in White Plains... Comparative Zoology. Romer was very keen in investigating vertebrate evolution. Comparing facts from... that happened during the evolution of fishes to primitive terrestrial vertebrates and from these to...

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Edward Griffith

Edward Griffith (1790 - 1858) was a British naturalist and solicitor. He wrote General and Particular Descriptions of the Vertebrated Animals (1821) and translated Georges Cuvier's Règne animal , making considerable additions (1827–35...

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Gnathostoma

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Pedicle

In anatomy, the pedicle is the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body. The pedicle is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures. Related topics Vertebra Skeleton...

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Superior colliculi

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