One of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom, comprising all animals that have a backbone composed of bony or cartilaginous vertebræ, together with Amphioxus in which the backbone is represented by a simple undivided notochord. The Vertebrata always have a dorsal, or neural, cavity above the notochord or backbone, and a ventral, or visceral, cavity below it. The subdivisions or classes of Vertebrata are Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia, Pisces, Marsipobranchia, and Leptocardia.

Clade with synapomorphy of a series of bones (vertebrae) forming the main axial elements in the dorsal part of the skeleton. Placed with clade Chordata.

The Subphylum in which the Hummingbird is placed. A vertebrate is a chordate whose spinal nerve is protected by vertebrae of bone or cartilage (a "backbone").

or Vertebrate Animals: The highest division of the animal kingdom, so called from the presence in most cases of a backbone composed of numerous joints of vertebrae, which constitutes the centre of the skeleton and at the same time supports the central parts of the nervous system.