vertebrate paleontology

NOUN
23 LETTERS · STARTS WITH V

vertebrate paleontology is a valid 23-letter word worth 33 points in Scrabble and 39 points in Words with Friends.

SCRABBLE WORDS WITH FRIENDS
V4E1R1T1E1B3R1A1T1E1P3A1L1E1O1N1T1O1L1O1G2Y4
4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 4 =33 PTS
DOUBLE WORD → 66TRIPLE WORD → 99
MEANING

What does vertebrate paleontology mean?