selkäpuueläimet
Selkäpuueläimet is a Finnish term that translates to "backbone animals" and is used to refer to the subphylum Vertebrata within the phylum Chordata. This group encompasses all animals that possess a backbone or vertebral column, a defining characteristic that distinguishes them from other chordates. The vertebral column is a series of bony or cartilaginous segments that enclose and protect the spinal cord, which is itself part of the central nervous system.
Vertebrates are a highly diverse group, ranging from jawless fish to mammals. Their evolutionary history is