INVERTEBRATES

Invertebrates do not have a backbone. They do not have bones.

Some invertebrates have soft bodies, some have a shell and other have a hard outer covering to their bodies.

They can live in the water, undrground, in a tree trunk or in the body of another animal.

GROUPS OF INVERTEBRATES

The most important groups of invertebrates are:

• Annelids have a long softy body, divided into segments. They have no protective covering. Earth worms are annelids.
• Molluscs have a soft body, covered with a shell. Snails are molluscs.
• Arthropods have a hard outer covering, or exoskeleton.