Invertebrates

• Invertebrates are animals that do not have backbone.
• All invertebrates are oviparous, they are born from eggs.
• They can be herbivores, carnivores or omnivores. 
• Some invertebrates have a protective covering:
• Shells - Hard and strong.
• Exoeskeleton - Can be thick or thin.
• Some invertebrates have no protecting covering.

INVERTEBRATES CLASSIFICATION

• WORMS

Worms have got a long soft body. They don’t have shells. Some live on land and others live in water.

Some worms are parasites. They live inside another animal and feed on them.

Examples of worms are: earthworms, planarians and  leeches.

• CNIDARIANS

Cnidarians are water animals that have soft bodies and tentacles. Jellyfish, coral and sea anemones are examples of cnidarians. 

• MOLLUSKS

Mollusks have a soft, muscular body. Some molluscs, like snails, have got a shell. Many molluscs live in the sea. Mussels, oysters and octopus are all mollusks.

• ECHINODERMS

They live in salt water. They usually have 5 arms but can have over 20. Examples: starfish and sea urchins.

• ARTHROPODS:

• CRUSTACEANS. Crustaceans have a hard exoskeleton, and jointed legs.Most crustaceans live in water, but some live on land. Crustaceans are the most numerous animals in the oceans, but some crustaceans live on fresh water. Crabs, lobsters, shrimps, prawns and barnacles are all crustaceans.






• ARACHNIDS. They have 8 legs while insects have 6. They don’t have antennae while insects do.  Most spiders make silk which they use to create spider webs and capture prey. Tarantulas are large and often hairy spiders. The arachnid family includes scorpions, mites, ticks and harvestmen.

• INSECTS. Their bodies have got 3 parts: head, thorax and abdomen. They have got six legs and wings. Most insects have got antennae to touch and smell.All insects lay eggs.