Maine legal term
Vertebrate in Maine Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Maine legislative session
In Maine criminal law, “Vertebrate” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Maine criminal code.
What does “Vertebrate” mean in Maine criminal law?
"Vertebrate" means a subphylum of chordate animals comprising those having a brain enclosed in a skull or cranium and a segmented spinal column, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. 28. (17 M.R.S. § 1011)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.