Types of Invertebrates

Invertebrate Phylum Characteristics Examples

Placozoa Microscopic marine animal. Flattened body Single species identified
composed of two outer layers of flagellated cells as Trichoplax adherens.
enclosing loose cells. Reproduces asexually and
possibly sexually.
Porifera Simple, multicellular animals with tissues but no Sponges
distinct organs. Commonly known as sponges,
they typically attach to rocks, shells, or coral.
Most sponges have an irregular shape supported
by a skeleton composed of calcareous crystals,
silicon spicules, or spongin fibers. Most sponges
have an internal water canal system that moves
water through the body, providing a constant
supply of food particles and oxygen to all cells
and removing wastes. Sponges reproduce
sexually. They regenerate lost or injured body
parts.
Cnidaria Aquatic radially symmetrical animals with Coral, hydra, jellyfish,
tentacles encircling the mouth at one end of the Portuguese man-of-war,
body. Cnidarians appear in two forms during sea anemone
their life cycle, the sessile, cylindrical polyp and
the free-swimming medusa that looks like a
jellyfish. Most feed on zooplankton, although
some eat larger invertebrates. Cnidarians use
tentacles to capture prey, immobilizing the prey
with stinging cells called nematocysts.
Cnidarians reproduce both asexually (by
budding) and sexually. Some species are
hermaphroditic, with both eggs and sperm
produced in each individual. Most regenerate
lost or injured body parts.
Ctenophora Jellyfish-like marine animals distinguished by Sea walnuts, comb
eight rows of cilia that propel the body in jellies
swimming. They feed on other invertebrates
using two retractable sticky tentacles to capture
prey. All ctenophores are hermaphroditic and
reproduce sexually. Many are luminescent.
Platyhelminthes Structurally simple worms with no anus or Flatworms, flukes,
circulatory system. Known as flatworms, their tapeworms
flattened bodies enable internal tissues to be near
the skin surface, permitting gas and nutrient
exchange with the environment. A muscular
 layer just beneath the skin layer aids in
locomotion. Flatworms are hermaphrodites and
reproduce sexually. They typically have a life
cycle involving a parasitic larval stage. Many
types of flatworms are parasites of vertebrates.
Mesozoa Minute parasitic animals of invertebrates, Rhopalura granosa
particularly squids and octopuses. These worms
have a simple, elongated, ciliated body. They
reproduce sexually and have a complex life cycle
involving more than one larval form.
Nemertea or Animals characterized by a proboscis, a long, Nemertine worms,
Rhynchocoela muscular tube used in capturing invertebrate ribbon worms
food. Nemerteans have elongated, flattened
bodies and they lack an internal body cavity.
They have a mouth opening for food ingestion
and an anal opening for wastes. The blood of
some nermerteans contains oxygen-carrying
hemoglobin. Nemerteans reproduce sexually.
Gastrotricha Microscopic multicellular animals that inhabit Turbanella cornuta,
both freshwater and marine water. An external Chaetonotus anomalus
layer, the cuticle, encasing these animals
contains cilia that aid in locomotion. Adhesive
tubes found on the sides or at the posterior end
aid in surface attachment. Freshwater species
have a forked tail. These animals feed on dead or
living bacteria, diatoms, or small protozoa.
Marine species are hermaphroditic, while most
fresh water species are female, reproducing by
parthenogenesis.
Rotifera or Rotatoria Microscopic aquatic animals characterized by a Synchaeta oblonga,
corona, a wheel-shaped organ on the head used Phylodina roseola
in feeding and swimming. The rapid beating of
the cilia on the corona draws nutrient-containing
water into the mouth. A protective cuticle covers
the elongated, cylindrical body. Reproduction is
sexual during brief periods of the year and
throughout the rest of the year females reproduce
via parthenogenesis.
Kinorhyncha or Tiny worms with spiny bodies. An outer Echinoderes,
Echinodera protective cuticle is segmented and articulated. Condyloderes
Found in the muddy bottoms of coastal waters,
they feed on microorganisms and organic
particles by means of a sucking pharynx.
Reproduction is sexual.
Nematoda Commonly known as roundworms, these Ascarids, vinegar eels,
animals are one of the most diverse and cyst nematodes,
geographically widespread invertebrate phyla. heartworms,
Free-living roundworms inhabit freshwater and hookworms
marine habitats, as well as soil. Parasitic
roundworms prey on both plants and animals,
causing widespread agricultural damage and
disease. Roundworms have long, cylindrical
bodies with a mouth surrounded by lips and
sensory papillae or bristles. Fluid in the body
cavity distributes nutrients and oxygen-
roundworms do not have special respiratory or
circulatory systems. Roundworms prey on other
invertebrates as well as diatoms, algae, and
fungi. They reproduce sexually and larvae
undergo at least four molts before reaching their
adult size and shape.
Nematomorpha Long, threadlike worms found in soil or Nectoneme, gordian
freshwater, commonly known as horsehair worms
worms. They have no distinct head. Larvae are
parasitic on terrestrial arthropods, usually
insects. Adults do not feed but depend entirely
on nutrients obtained during the parasitic larval
stage. Reproduction is sexual.
Acanthocephala Worms characterized by the presence of Spiny-headed worms
retractable spiny hooks that attach to the
intestinal walls of aquatic and terrestrial
vertebrates. Lacking a digestive tract, these
worms absorb nutrients through their body wall.
Reproduction is sexual and the life cycle
includes larval forms that are parasites of
crustaceans or insects.
Gnathostomulida Elongated, ciliated worms that live in marine Jaw worms
sand. These animals have a mouth structure with
a combed plate and toothed jaws. Bacteria and
fungi are scraped into the mouth by the comb
and passed into the gut by snapping movements
of the jaws. Hermaphroditic, these animals
reproduce sexually.
Mollusca Diverse animals found in water and on land. Chitons, oysters, snails,
Most mollusks have a hard shell that protects a clams, squid
soft body, although in some mollusks the hard
shell is missing or hardly visible. A feeding
organ called a radula contains rows of teeth used
to scrape food into the mouth. Enzymes in
 salivary glands partially digest food before it
reaches the intestines. Reproduction is sexual
and some mollusks have a larval form.
Annelida Segmented worms with a muscular body wall Lugworms, earthworms,
used for burrowing. External hairs called setae
aid in traction during burrowing. An internal leeches
coelom is divided into compartments by walls
known as septum. The digestive system stretches
from the mouth to the anus, differentiated into
regions, each with a different function.
Reproduction is sexual.
Pogonophora Deep-sea worms that live in chitinous tubes Bead worms
attached to the ocean floor. Their long, slender
body has a beard of tentacles at the head end.
There is no mouth or digestive system and these
animals absorb all nourishment through the body
surface. They reproduce sexually.
Vestimentifera Giant deep-sea worms that live in chitinous tubes Llamellibrachs
attached to the ocean floor. They derive nutrition
using a specialized organ called a trophosome to
digest sulfide-oxidizing bacteria.
Sipuncula Marine worms with a saclike body and a long Peanut worms
proboscis. These worms withdraw their narrow
head into the fatter posterior portion. The head
end bears tentacles used in burrowing and
gathering food particles. Lacking a
cardiovascular system, they use internal fluid to
transfer oxygen and food to body tissues. They
reproduce sexually and some have a larval form.
Echiura Plump marine worms that take shelter in sand Spoon worms
burrows or rock crevices. They use a mucous net
or a scoop-shaped proboscis to capture food
particles. Reproduction is sexual.
Priapulida Cucumber-shaped, marine worms with spiny Priapulus
heads. During movement the barrel-shaped
proboscis withdraws into the trunk of the worm.
Reproduction is sexual.
Tardigrada Microscopic animals with four pairs of stubby Water bears
legs that live in marine and freshwater sediments
and on the surface of mosses and lichens. They
use sharp stylets protruding from their mouths to
suck food from plant cells. These animals have a
remarkable ability to withstand extreme dryness
and low temperatures. Reproduction is sexual.
Pentastomida or Parasitic worms that live in the lungs of snakes, Tongue worms
Linguatulida crocodiles, and some mammals and birds,
feeding on blood and tissue. The head bears four
leglike claws and a snoutlike mouth. The body is
covered by a cuticle that is molted during larval
development. They reproduce sexually.
Phoronida Cylindrical, marine worms that live in a Horseshoe worms
chitinous tube embedded in sand or attached to
rocks, shells, or other objects in shallow water.
Protruding out of the tube is the animal's
lophophore, a structure of ciliated tentacles
arranged in a horseshoe shape, that is used for
feeding. They have a U-shaped digestive tract.
Adults are sedentary and larvae are free-
swimming. Reproduction is asexual in at least
one species, but most species reproduce
sexually.
Arthropoda Largest and most diverse invertebrate phylum Ants, beetles,
characterized by animals with jointed limbs, a butterflies, lobsters,
segmented body, and an exoskeleton made of shrimp, crabs,
chitin. Arthropods are abundant and successful scorpions, spiders, ticks
in almost all habitats. The exoskeleton is divided
into plates that enhance flexibility and
movement. Periodic molting of the exoskeleton
permits growth. Arthropods have a complex
brain and nervous system. Many arthropods have
a compound eye made up of numerous light-
sensitive parts. Reproduction is sexual.
Ectoprocta or Bryozoa Small, mostly marine animals that resemble Moss animals
simplified horseshoe worms, with a lophophore
surrounding the mouth. They live in colonies,
attaching to the sea bottom or seaweed.
Bryozoans are hermaphroditic and reproduce
asexually (by budding) and sexually.
Entoprocta or Small, mostly marine animals with a globular Urnatella, Pedicellina
Kamptozoa body mounted on a stalk. A lophophore
surrounds both the mouth and anus. Entoprocts
live in colonies. They reproduce both asexually
and sexually.
Brachiopoda Marine animals that resemble clams except that Lamp shells
their shells form on the top and bottom of the
animal, while clam shells form on the left and
right of the animal. The shell attaches to the
ocean bottom, rocks, or other objects by means
 of a cordlike stalk. Brachiopods reproduce
sexually.
Echinodermata Marine animals distinguished by their radial Sea stars, brittle stars,
symmetry in which the body can be divided into sea urchins, sand
five parts arranged around a central axis. They dollars, sea cucumbers
have internal skeletons composed of calcareous
ossicles with projecting spines that give the body
surface a bumpy appearance. They use body
appendages called processes for feeding and
locomotion. Reproduction is sexual and some
have a larval form.
Cycliophora Discovered in 1995, these parasites live in the Single species identified
mouthparts of certain lobsters. They have a as Symbion pandora
characteristic saclike body with a bell-shaped
mouth structure called a buccal funnel. Only one
species has been identified, and it displays
alternation of generations, with both asexual and
sexual components of the life cycle.
Loricifera Marine sediment dwellers with a protective Nanaloricus mysticus
structure called a lorica, consisting of plates that
surround the animal's trunk. The mouth and head
retract into the lorica for protection.
Reproduction is sexual and little is known about
the life cycle, although a larval form has been
identified.
Onychophora Terrestrial, caterpillar-like animals found only in Velvet worms
the tropics and southern hemisphere. The soft
body is covered by a flexible cuticle that
periodically molts. The head region contains a
pair of antennae and clawlike mandibles. They
have from 14 to 43 pairs of legs, depending upon
the species and gender. Reproduction is sexual.
Chaetognatha Torpedo-shaped marine animals with fins that Arrow worms
enable them to swim with rapid, dartlike
movements as well as gliding and floating
motions. Movable hooks on their heads are used
to capture prey. These animals are
hermaphrodites and reproduction is sexual.
Hemichordata Simple, wormlike marine animals with a Acorn worms
primitive notochord and a system of gills. They
use a distinctive proboscis to capture food and
also to aid in locomotion. Reproduction is sexual
and some have a larval form that resembles the
larvae of echinoderms.
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