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WHAT ARE INVERTEBRATES?

Chapter 1 Lesson 3

What are Invertebrates? Read the paragraphs in page 138, 139.

Invertebrates are animals without a backbone.

COMPARE AND CONTRASTInsects Spiders & ticks

Three body parts1. Body parts

2. Legs

3. Wings

4. Body covering

Six legs

Many have wings

Hard outer covering

Two body parts

Eight legs

Don’t have wings

Have an outer covering

Invertebrates are classified into smaller groups by the ways they are alike.

Snails, clams and squids They all have soft

bodies. Most of them have a

head. Some of them, like the

squid, have tentacles. Some of them, like the

clam and the snail, have hard shells to protect their soft bodies, and have a “muscular” foot that helps them to move.

Other invertebrates: Worms have no shells,

legs or eyes. Starfish is covered with

spines that protect it. Sea anemone opens its

mouth, its tentacles makes it look like a flower.

Crab has hard outer covering like the insects.

Invertebrates are important:

Earthworms improve the soil by its movement because they mix air into the soil.

Bees and butterflies move pollen from one flower to another.

Many invertebrates are foods for other animals. People can eat clams and crabs.

Bees produce honey, make beeswax which is used to make candles for example.