How Do You Spell VERTEBRATES?

Pronunciation: [vˈɜːtɪbɹˌe͡ɪts] (IPA)

Vertebrates is spelled with nine letters and is pronounced /ˈvɜːtɪbrəts/. The word starts with the consonant v, which represents the voiced labiodental fricative sound /v/. The vowel e is pronounced as /ɜː/, followed by the consonant cluster rt, pronounced as /rt/. The next vowel is e, pronounced as /ɪ/. The word ends with the consonant cluster br, which is pronounced as /br/ and the sound t, which is pronounced as /ts/. Vertebrates are a group of animals that have a backbone or spinal column.

VERTEBRATES Meaning and Definition

  1. Vertebrates are a group of animals belonging to the subphylum Vertebrata, which is a major division within the phylum Chordata. They are characterized by the presence of a backbone or spine, which is composed of a series of individual skeletal elements called vertebrae. This backbone provides support and protection to the central nervous system, especially the spinal cord.

    Vertebrates represent a diverse array of animals, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. They are distinct from the invertebrates, which lack a backbone and include animals such as insects, mollusks, and worms.

    One significant characteristic of vertebrates is their bilateral symmetry, meaning that their bodies are divided into two halves that are roughly mirror images of each other. They also possess a well-defined head region, where important sensory organs like eyes, ears, and noses are located.

    Another distinguishing feature is the presence of an internal skeleton made of bone or cartilage. This endoskeleton provides support for muscles, which facilitates movement. Vertebrates also have a closed circulatory system, with a heart that pumps blood through a network of blood vessels.

    With a wide range of adaptations and habitats, vertebrates have successfully colonized many different environments on Earth. They exhibit a vast array of sizes, from tiny frogs to massive whales, and have a wide variety of lifestyles. Vertebrates play crucial roles in ecosystems and often occupy the upper levels of food chains, making them essential for maintaining the balance of various ecosystems.

Top Common Misspellings for VERTEBRATES *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for VERTEBRATES

Etymology of VERTEBRATES

The word "vertebrate" comes from the Latin term "vertebrātus", which is the past participle form of the verb "vertebrāre". This verb is derived from the noun "vertebra", meaning "joint" or "bone". In Latin, "vertebra" was specifically used to refer to the bones of the spinal column. Therefore, "vertebrātus" means "jointed" or "having vertebrae", which accurately describes the defining characteristic of animals classified as vertebrates.

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