invertebrates
animals with a fully developed brain and spinal cord, but no skull or vertebrae to protect them.
mollusca
the "soft-bodied animals". includes the largest invertebrate species on Earth.
open circulatory system
blood spills out of blood vessels into a body cavity at least once as it circulates
hemocoel
the body cavity blood spills into as it moves through an open circulatory system. Usually contains the kidney.
foot
a muscular structure used by molluscs to swim, crawl or capture prey. may be modified into a series of tentacles.
visceral mass
region of mollusc's body where most vital organs are located
mantle cavity
region of mollusc's body where the gill/lung is located. Lined by a membrane that produces the animal's shell if ti has one.
radula
a file or beak-file mouthpart found in most molluscs. Used to tear or rasp food in to the animal's mouth. in some species, it may be used to inject venom.
Shell-less molluscs
the only group of molluscs without any type of shell. have a worm-like body. survive as scavengers on beaches. Some species may have a spined tail for defense.
chitons
algae eaters found on rocks in coastal areas. boyd covered by a single dome-shaped shell or a shell made of overlapping plates.
tooth shells
scavengers that bury most of their body beneath the surface of ocean floor mud. the body is in a hollow shell shaped like an incisor tooth. the foot extends out of the broad end of the shell to dig for food. the narrow end of the shell barely extends abov
gastropods
snails and slugs. the only type of terrestrial mollusk and as such, the only type with lung in the mantle cavity instead of a gill.
veliger
the shell-less larva of snails. body grows and contorts into the shell as it develops
torsion
the process of rearranging the internal organs of a snail's body as it grows into its shell. as a result, normal bilateral symmetry is lost, but waste-filled blood from the kidney is kept away from other body cavities/organs
cone shells
a family of snails in the south pacific region. They can fire their radula from their mouth like a harpoon to kill prey or for defense. they produce the single most toxic venom in the animal kingdom, easily capable of killing an adult human.
bivalves
shellfish. clams, oysters, scallops, freshwater mussels. the only type of molluscs without a radula. they are filter feeders using muscular siphons to draw water through their body for feeding. all species have a pair of hinged shells covering and protect
nacre
combination of protein, carbs and minerals that forms a bivalves shell. it can be layered onto a parasite or some other irritant to kill/smooth it and make it large enough to be pushed out of the shell by the foot.
Glochidium
larva of some bivalves that uses its shell to attach to a fish's gills and drain blood from them until becoming an adult clam.
cephalopods
octopi, squid, cuttlefish, nautilus. foot is modified into a series of sucker-armed tentacles ( 8 inches in octopi, 10 in squid, 14-16 in cuttlefish and nautiloids) radula is beak-like and used to tear flesh form captured prey. muscular siphons create a w
chromatophores
cells in cephalopod skin that allows rapid color change as a possible way to communicate with each other.
sepia
an ink-like material cephalopods can eject into the water to cloud the vision of a predator.
giant squid
the largest known invertebrate on earth. Specimens have washed ashore in both Eastern Canada and Australia that measure over 60 feet long.
Arthropoda
(Jointed foot in definition)The largest phylum of animals on earth. accounting for roughly 80% of animals on earth. All species have an open circulatory system, their body is covered by a hard protective shell-like structure, called an exoskeleton made of
ecdysis
the periodic shedding of the exoskeleton which allows the body to grow.
trilobites
sub-phylum, extinct. a now extinct group of arthropods. Fossils of which are found worldwide, they are thought to be the ancestors of all modern day arthropods.
Chelicerates
sub-phylum, extant. have fang or needle-like mouth parts called chelicerae, that are used to inject venom or stomach acids into prey and then suck body fluids and liquify the tissues into its stomach.
horseshoe crabs
scavengers found in all of earths' oceans, their exoskeleton forms a large dome-shaped shell called the carapace, which covers and protects their body, they have a spine-like tail called the telson used in mating. Their blood contains protein that increas
arachnids
the most common group of chelicerates, all species at some point have eight legs attached to two different body segments.
cephalothorax
forward body segment containing the legs, chelicerae, and most of the vital organs.
abdomen (arachnids)
rear body segment, containing the intestine, the reproductive organs, and other specialized structures.
Scorpions
predators in deserts and tropical forests, they have a venomous stinger at the end of the abdomen used for defense. Their front pair of legs are modified into pincers called chelipeds that are used to rip apart insect or prey.
False scorpions
also known as whip tailed scorpions, they have a hallow tail used to throw acetic acid at the eyes of an animal attacking them.
spiders
most common group of arachnids, all species are venomous, all species are predators, and all species have the ability to produce some form of web.
silk gland
structure in the abdomen that produces a fluid that hardens on air contact to create the threads for the spiders web.
spinnerets
two muscular structures that control the release of silk gland fluid and help shape it into the spiders web.
black widow and brown recluse
the only two species of spiders native to the United States with venom that can kill a human being.
funnel web spider
native to Australia, It produces the most toxic venom of any spider species.
Banana spider
native to central and south america, they cause more human death per year than any other spider species.
Sea Spiders
found in the souther ocean, they are venomous predators with external gills attached to the cephalothorax, they do not have the ability to form a web and instead they ambush small fish or similar prey.
Ticks and mites
parasites that feed on blood and tissue fluids from the skin of their host. Many species are major vectors of disease
hypostone
a spine-hallowed tube extended out of the ticks mouth and into a bite wound they inflict on their host used to hold the tick onto its host and draw blood from its tissues. It's attached to the salivary gland which will cause it to inject bacteria that can
Harvestmen
Known as grand daddy long legs, they are scavengers that feed on plant juices and decaying plant material found in most temperate areas of the world.
autotomy
the ability to self-sever and regrow a limb in order to escape a predator.
mandibulates
have a functional jaw allowing food to be bitten an chewed.
Myriopods
have long multi-segmented bodies with one or two pairs of legs per segment
Centipedes
have a single pair of legs per segment, they are predators which use venomous claws on their head to kill prey.
millipedes
have two pairs of legs per segment, they are scavengers found over most of the earth.
musking
the ability to throw fecal matter or fowl smelling liquids as defense.
Crustacean
arthropods that use gills for respiration even when on dry land.
Isopods
commonly known as sow bugs, wood lice, or by other common names, they are the only completely terrestrial crustaceans, they are scavengers, their presents in a home is an indicator to water damage in that home.
Copepods
microscopic or barely macroscopic organisms that form a major part of the oceans plankton where they create the base of ocean food chains.
Barnacles
sessile filter feeders, with a hinged exoskeleton that can be open for feeding or closed to protect the body. They can attach to the underside of ships where they increase drag through the water resulting in the increase of fuel cost.
Crabs, shrimps, lobsters
the largest crustaceans all species have a thick carapace for protection and chelipeds to kill prey or to tear apart decomposing food. They survive as opportunists. All species are delicious when served in lemon butter.
Insects
the most common type of animal on earth. At some point in their life all species have three body segments and six legs.
head
the forward most body segment of insects, containing the brain moth parts, and major sense organs.
compound eye
main sense organ of insects positioned on either side of the head made of multiple lensed units each of which can form a separate image giving them a nearly complete 360? field of view.
Thorax
mid-body region containing legs, wing if present, and most major organs.
tracheoles
small openings between the legs of the thorax allowing air into and out of the lungs.
Malpighian Tubules
a series of string like organs that fill most of the thorax they function like kidneys filtering waste from blood flowing over them
abdomen (insect)
rear body segment where the intestines reproductive organs and specialized structures are found.
ovipositor
Structure on the abdomen of female insects used to lay eggs in an area where they can best survive and develop.
Incomplete metamorphosis
The less common insect life cycle. Eggs hatch into an immature stage called the nymph which has the same body structure as the adult but is smaller and can't reproduce. They use the same food source as the adult creating competition between generations.
complete metamorphosis
The more common insect life cycle. Eggs hatch into an immature stage knowns as a larva which has a different structure as the adult and uses a different food source it eventually enters a dormant stage known as the pupa where it transforms into an adult.
instars
bursts of growth and rapid feeding during the larval stage they can be used in forensic science to determine an approximate time of death of the remains containing fly larvy.
chrysallis
a cocoon or similar structure in which the pupa transforms into an adult.
Beetles
most common type of insect.
Flies and mosquitos
The only type of winged insects with a single pair of wings.
Butterflies/Moths
have powdery scales covering their wings allowing them to capture wind currents so that they can soar for a great difference.
Grasshoppers/Roaches/Mantids
Have multiple joints in the feet and legs giving them a wide range of motion and the ability to cling to most surfaces.
Ants/Bees/Wasps
have an abdominal stinger which may be retracted into the abdomen. Some species have complex societies controlled by a dominant queen which uses a group of hormones called pheromones to control the actions of the society.
Termites
One of the few known types of animals that can break down wood fibers for energy an ability created by a protist living in their intestines.
Fleas
Blood feeding parasites that are major carriers of tape worms causing infections in cats and dogs.
Biting lice
Tears skin from the host causing serious open wounds that may produce secondary infections.
Sucking lice
Have a needle-like mouth tube used to draw blood and tissue fluids from the host.
dragonflies and mayflies
major link in the food chain of fresh water lakes and streams
silverfish
most common type of wingless insect they are major carriers of viruses and bacteria that are responsible for some intestinal infections
Echinodermata
the spiny skinned animals. Marine organisms with a series of spines extending from the skeleton and through their skin. They have no circulatory or muscular system.
water-vascular system
a series of tubes which ocean water is run through to generate movement and suction for movement.
pentamarous biradial symmetry
body plan unique to Echinodermata in which bilateral groups of organs are arranged radially around the central point in a multiple of five.
starfish
the largest and most common echinoderms. All species are predators that feed on shellfish. They feed by extending their stomach out of their mouth to break down and absorb prey tissues.
Brittlestars
nocturnal scavengers, with long, slender, flexible arms that can be lost by autotomy for defense.
Sand Dollars and Sea Urchins
have large prominent spines extending through the skin. Sand dollars are scavengers with soft hair-like spines. Sea urchins are predators that feed on coral with sharp needle-like spines. Sea urchins cause an increase in beach flooding and erosion as they
Sea Daisies
one of the most recently discovered class of animals they are found in the pacific ocean between Australia and new Zealand. They are scavengers they have a body similar to sea urchins but water-vascular tubes are arranged in a bullseye pattern
Sea Cucumbers
scavengers on the ocean bottom. Spines are small and almost non-excitant skeleton has a leathery texture making them the only echinoderms fully edible.
Sea Lillies
sessile filter feeders that use their water-vascular system to filter food from ocean water. Fossils indicate they are one of the most ancient type of animal life are still surviving on earth today.