Invertebrate, ihn VUR tuh briht, is an animal that lacks a vertebral column (backbone). The bones of the vertebral column are called vertebrae. The scientific name for animals without backbones is Invertebrata, meaning without vertebrae. Animals that have vertebral columns are called vertebrates, or Vertebrata. There are more than 1 million known species (kinds) of invertebrates and about 40,000 species of vertebrates.