Introduction to the Invertebrate World!
From a tiny worm, to a jellyfish, invertebrates are diverse! Each unique type of invertebrate plays it's own special role in our ecosystem. Without these incredible creatures, the world just wouldn't be the same. Our oceans wouldn't be as colorful, our forests wouldn't be filled with insect life, and our diner plates wouldn't have lobster on them. These animals prove that an animal does not need a backbone to live an awesome life. You might not realize it, but invertebrates affect our life a whole lot!
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. This means that invertebrates carry the trait of no vertebral column. There are six groups of invertebrates- Sponges, Worms, Mollusks, Arachnids, Arthropods, Echinoderms. Even though each of these types of invertebrates have many differences, they have many similarities too! They all perform the four basic life functions of eating and breathing, movement, reproduction, and keeping body conditions stable. How each animal performs the basic life functions may be different, but they all sure do perform them!
Every animal, including invertebrates, have either bilateral or radial symmetry. Animals with radial symmetry have symmetry around a central axis, or more than one line of symmetry. Most of these animals are less complex and don't move a whole lot. For example, sea stars and jellyfish have radial symmetry. Animals with bilateral symmetry have just one line that divide their body into two halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry are more complex and larger. Even humans have bilateral symmetry!
To learn more about each type of invertebrate, click on the tabs above!
From a tiny worm, to a jellyfish, invertebrates are diverse! Each unique type of invertebrate plays it's own special role in our ecosystem. Without these incredible creatures, the world just wouldn't be the same. Our oceans wouldn't be as colorful, our forests wouldn't be filled with insect life, and our diner plates wouldn't have lobster on them. These animals prove that an animal does not need a backbone to live an awesome life. You might not realize it, but invertebrates affect our life a whole lot!
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. This means that invertebrates carry the trait of no vertebral column. There are six groups of invertebrates- Sponges, Worms, Mollusks, Arachnids, Arthropods, Echinoderms. Even though each of these types of invertebrates have many differences, they have many similarities too! They all perform the four basic life functions of eating and breathing, movement, reproduction, and keeping body conditions stable. How each animal performs the basic life functions may be different, but they all sure do perform them!
Every animal, including invertebrates, have either bilateral or radial symmetry. Animals with radial symmetry have symmetry around a central axis, or more than one line of symmetry. Most of these animals are less complex and don't move a whole lot. For example, sea stars and jellyfish have radial symmetry. Animals with bilateral symmetry have just one line that divide their body into two halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry are more complex and larger. Even humans have bilateral symmetry!
To learn more about each type of invertebrate, click on the tabs above!