“Invertebrates” include all animals exclusive of vertebrates, in an artificial division set up centuries ago. Of the 34 or so major divisions (phyla) of animal life, 33 and 2/3 are “invertebrate”.

Animals come in a bewildering diversity of forms and pursue an amazing breadth of life styles, including sponges, corals, worms, mollusks, arthropods, echinoderms, and chordates.

Invertebrate Highlights

Jan 2, 2017

Alpheus dolerus & Asymmetrione

The Alpheus dolerus is one of 250 described snapping shrimp in the Alpheus genus. The family Alpheidae is made up…

Jul 7, 2013

Triactis producta

The sea anemone Triactis producta (Klunzinger, 1877) Triactis producta is the only species in the sea anemone (Actiniaria) genus Triactis…

Apr 13, 2012

Glyptoxanthus labyrinthicus

Labyrinth crab, Glyptoxanthus labyrinthicus (Stimpson, 1860) The labyrinth crab, Glyptoxanthus labyrinthicus (Stimpson, 1860), is one of 8 species in the...

May 13, 2010

Pearsonothuria graeffei

Sea cucumber, Pearsonothuria graeffei Pearsonothuria graeffei is a member of the most diverse family of sea cucumbers on coral reefs, the…

Dec 17, 2009

Mesodon altivagus

Wandering globe snail, Mesodon altivagus (Pilsbry, 1900) This large and beautiful snail is found in only one patch of spruce-fir and northern…