vertebrata

Main Entry: Ver·te·bra·ta
Pronunciation: "v&r-t&-'brät-&, -'brAt-
Function: noun plural
: a major taxonomic groupusually considered to be a subphylum of chordates comprising animals (as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) with a segmented spinal column together with a few primitive forms in whichthe backbone is represented by a notochord

Vertebrata Ver·te·bra·ta (vûr'tə-brā'tə, -brä'-)
n.
A primary division of the phylum Chordata that includes the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, all of which are characterized by a segmented spinal column and a distinct, well-differentiated head.