ðə dᵻfˈaɪnɪŋ kˌæɹɪktɚɹˈɪstɪk əvə vˈɜːɾɪbɹˌeɪt ɪz ðə vˈɜːɾɪbɹəl kˈɑːlʌm, fˈɔːɹmd ɪnðə dɪvˈɛləpmənt ʌvðə sɛɡmˈɛntɪd sˈɪɹiz ʌv vˈɜːɾɪbɹˌiː.
The defining characteristic of a vertebrate is the vertebral column, formed in the development of the segmented series of vertebrae.