  To every rational complex curve $C \subset (\mathbf{C}^\times)^n$ we
associate a rational tropical curve $\Gamma \subset \mathbf{R}^n$ so that the
amoeba $\mathcal{A}(C) \subset \mathbf{R}^n$ of $C$ is within a bounded
distance from $\Gamma$. In accordance with the terminology introduced by
Passare and Rullg{\aa}rd, we call $\Gamma$ the spine of $\mathcal{A}(C)$. We
use spines to describe tropical limits of sequences of rational complex curves.
