Vertebrates are animals that possess a backbone or spinal column, including groups such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Invertebrates, on the other hand, are animals that lack a backbone, encompassing a diverse range of organisms like insects, arachnids, mollusks, and crustaceans. Together, these two categories represent the vast majority of animal life on Earth, with invertebrates making up about 95% of all animal species.