Invertebrates - Animals without Backbones

Invertebrates outnumber vertebrates in diversity and number.

Arthropods, one of eight major groups of invertebrates, make up the largest group of animals. There may be as many as 10 million kinds of arthropods. All arthropods share three common characteristics:

  1. their bodies are divided into segments, or parts
  2. they have jointed legs, and
  3. they have hard outer coverings called exoskeletons.

Arthropods also have well-developed sensory organs and unique mouthparts.

Arthropods are divided into four main groups:

Label the Millipede

More on Millipedes

An Array of Arthropods (handout)

Arthropod Arithmetic (handout)

Insect Intellect (handout)

Resource links:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/index.shtml

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