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Invertebrates
Directions: Read the following information to learn about invertebrates.

Vocabulary:
sy etry: if cut in half, looks the same on both sides

Characteristics: Animals that don’t have a backbone are invertebrates. Invertebrates are
also multicellular, do not have a cell wall, and cannot make their own food. Many, but not
all invertebrates are organized in a symmetrical way. This means if you cut them in half,
the two sides would look exactly the same. Invertebrates are sorted into different groups;
sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, roundworms, segmented worms, mollusks, arthropods,
and echinoderms. Most animals, about 96% of them, are invertebrates. Invertebrates can
be found all over the world.
hat are the characteristics o i vertebrates

o es: Sponges are considered to be the simplest type of animal in

how it is structured. They do not have tissues or organs but have a few
specialized cells. They are asymmetrical invertebrates. This means that
both sides look different. Look at the picture to the left of the tube sponge, if you were to
cut it in half, it would not look the same on both sides. Like most animals, they take in food
through their bodies to get energy, but once they are adults, they stay in one place,
similar to plants.

C i aria : Cnidarians are water animals that have a simple, symmetrical body
with a mouth opening. Around the mouth opening are stinging tentacles. They
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can be bell-shaped and mobile, like jellyfish, or have tubes and stay in one
spot, like coral. They lack organs, but they do have some tissue.
 or s: There are over 100,000 species of worms that are grouped into three
major categories; flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms. All worms have
symmetry. They also have tissues, organs, and organ systems. Flatworms have soft, flat
bodies. Some might have an eyespot that detect light. Tapeworms which
are parasites found in the intestines are examples of a flatworm. Roundworms look
like long thin tubes and have two body openings; a mouth and anus. Pinworms, another
parasite, is an example of the roundworm. Segmented worms are ones that we often see
such as an earthworm. They are the simplest animal with a brain. Their bodies are made
of sections.

On the post-its,
write notes on what
you learned about
worms.

ollus s: Mollusks are soft-bodied unsegmented bodies that may be

protected by a shell. Mollusks have a thin layer of tissue that protects their
internal organs called a mantle. They also possess an organ called a foot. This organ
might be used for crawling, digging, or catching prey. For example, a snail uses it to crawl,
a clam uses it to dig, and a squid uses it to catch prey. Some mollusks may also have a
head that includes sense organs.

Mollusks are organized into three major groups; gastropods, bivalves, and
cephalopod. Gastropods have tentacles on their heads. They may also have a shell, like a
snail. Bivalves have two shells. Bi- is a prefix that means two. The two shells are
connected at the base by a ligament that can be controlled. They have tiny eyes. Clams
and mussels are examples of bivalves. Cephalopod are the smartest of the mollusks, let
alone all of the invertebrates. They may have an internal or external shell or no shell at all.
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They have good vision and large brains which make them good hunters. Squid and octopus
are examples of cephalopods.
 rthro o s: About 75% of invertebrates are arthropods. This classification
includes crabs, insects, barnacles, and bees. Their characteristics include:
 Hard outer covering called an exoskeleton (outer skeleton)
 Segmented bodies
 Pairs of jointed appendages (joined legs)

There are three groups of arthropods. Crustaceans, which include crabs and
lobster. They are an aquatic species, which means they are found in the water. Arachnids
are the second group which is made up of spiders. Centipedes, millipedes, insects such as
bees and ants make up the third group. There is another group, trilobites, that are made
up of ancient creatures and can only be found as fossils.

chi o er s: Echinoderms are invertebrates that have an endoskeleton.

An endoskeleton is similar to a human where you can find the skeleton
inside the body. They also have fluid-filled tubes. Echinoderms have
symmetry that can be seen in the sea urchin above or in a starfish. Sea star, sea urchin,
sea cucumber, and brittle stars are the major groups of echinoderms.

Invertebrates make up a majority of the animal species. Invertebrates are classified

into smaller groups based on their characteristics. Invertebrates are different from human
beings in that they do not have a backbone and may be organized in a symmetrical way.
Some invertebrates may have an endoskeleton that grows with them. If an invertebrate
has an exoskeleton, the skeleton does not grow with them. Instead, they shed the skeleton
and grow a new one as they grow. For invertebrates that do not have a skeleton, like
slugs, the pressure of the fluid inside their bodies keep their shape.

Write down three things you learned about invertebrates.

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Comprehension Questions: Answer the questions based on your knowledge of
invertebrates.
1. How are invertebrates different from vertebrates?
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2. On the table below, list the characteristics and examples of the different invertebrates.

Invertebrate Group Characteristics Examples

Sponges

Cnidarians

Worms

Mollusks

Arthropods
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Echinoderms