Invertebrates

Invertebrates include all the animals that lack a backbone. Insects, spiders, crustaceans, sponges, sea stars, jellies, and lots of other animals are invertebrates. There are far more invertebrate species than vertebrate species.

Some invertebrates like earthworms and octopi are soft and squishy. Some invertebrates like crabs and beetles are hard and crunchy. Hard and crunchy invertebrates have either an exoskeleton made of chitin (think of a lobster) or a shell made of calcium (think of a snail.)

People like to eat many species of invertebrates including lobsters, crabs, clams, and oysters. Other invertebrates are farmed for products like silk and honey. Invertebrates help pollinate flowers for fruit such as apples, peaches, tomatoes, and pumpkins. There are even invertebrates that help doctors treat patients with injuries and illness (leeches and fly larvae.)

Without invertebrates, humans would not be able to survive. In addition to providing us with food and goods, invertebrates help create soil for plants to grow. Plants provide our planet with oxygen.

So, you might not want to kiss a cockroach or cuddle a sea cucumber, but invertebrates are a very important part of life on Earth.