ver·te·brate 
(vûrtə-brĭt, -brāt′)
(vûrtə-brĭt, -brāt′)adj.
1. Having a backbone or spinal column.
2. Of or characteristic of vertebrates or a vertebrate.
n.
Any of numerous chordate animals of the subphylum Vertebrata, characterized by a segmented spinal column and a distinct well-differentiated head. The vertebrates include the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
[Latin vertebrātus, having joints, from vertebra, vertebra; see VERTEBRA.]