Plural of endoskeleton; internal bone or cartilage frameworks that support and protect the bodies of vertebrate animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
From Greek 'endo-' (inside) + 'skeletos' (skeleton) + plural '-s'. The plural refers to multiple internal skeletal systems found across the vertebrate subphylum.
Endoskeletons are why mammals, birds, and fish can grow larger and stronger than insects—an internal skeleton can support much more weight, which is why blue whales are the largest animals ever, while the biggest insects with exoskeletons are just a few inches long.
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