Distinguishing

Characteristics
of
Invertebrates
Overview
This module is designed to help you determine the distinguishing characteristics
of invertebrate animals. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many
different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary
level of students.
Objectives
Most Essential Learning Competencies:
Specifically, after going through this module, you are expected to:
1. describe the characteristic of invertebrate animals;
2. classify invertebrates into arthropod, mollusk, porifera, echinoderm, cnidaria,
plathyhelminthes, nematodes and annelids;
3. make an inventory of invertebrates that are commonly seen in the community.

Discussion of content

Animals are grouped into two groups. There are different kinds of animals. They
are classified based on their habitat, way of movement, body covering and way of
reproduction. Let us find out the group of animals without the skeletal system to
support their bodies.

Invertebrates Defined

Animals are classified whether they have backbones or no backbones.

Invertebrate animals are animals without backbones.
Characteristics of Invertebrate Animals

1. Invertebrate animals are multicellular meaning all their cells have different
functions to keep them alive.
2. These animals are cold blooded meaning their body temperature depends on
the temperature of their surroundings.
3. Animals that do not have cell wall and they reproduce by two reproductive
cells. Most of them change their form as they grow.
4. Invertebrate have different sizes. Most of them are small but some are big.
5. Among the body shapes of invertebrates are bilateral, radial and asymmetry.

Classification of Invertebrate Animals

Name Description Examples
1. Arthropods Arthropods’ bodies are
(Arachnids, Crustaceans, covered with
Insects, centipeds and exoskeleton which
millepedes) protects their bodies.
They have antennae and
eyes which can be simple
or compound. Arachnids
– are arthropods with
eight legs like scorpions,
spiders and ticks
Crustaceans – are
arthropods with ten legs,
antennae and eyes. Their
eyes are compound.
Their bodies are
composed of the
abdomen and
cephalothorax. Examples
are lobsters, shrimps and
crabs. Insects – Insects
are arthropods. They
have heads with
 compound eyes and
antennae. Their thorax is
composed of six legs.
They have wings.
Examples are
cockroaches, butterflies,
grasshoppers and bees.
2. Mollusks Mollusks have soft
bodies with bilateral
symmetry. Examples are
snails, oysters, mussels,
clams, octopuses and
squids.
3. Porifera Sponges are poriferans.
They are the simplest
form of invertebrate
animals. They are aquatic
and have pores.
Examples are small
sponge, sea sponge, and
Red Tube Sponge.
4. Echinoderms Echinoderms are
invertebrate animal with
spines. Examples are
feather stars, sea urchin,
and star fish.
5. Cnidaria Cnidarians are
invertebrate animals.
Their body contains an
internal cavity and
mouth and has radial
symmetry and they are
jelly like. They can
reproduce sexually or
asexually. Examples are
jellyfish, corals and sea
anemones
 6. Worms (flat worms Worms have soft bodies
(Platyhelminthes), with bilateral symmetry.
round worms Examples are
(Nematodes), earthworms, tapeworms
segmented worms and leeches. They can be
(Annelids) flat, round, and
segmented.

Activities

Activity 1: Describing Invertebrates

Directions: Put a check that corresponds to your answer. Choose whether the
animal is an Arthropod, Mollusk, Porifera, Echinoderm, Cnidaria or Worms.

Animal Animal Arthrop Mollus Porifer Echinoder Cnidari Worm

Descripti od k a m a s
on
Clam

Octopu
s

Lice

Sponge

Star fish

Sea
anemon
e
 Squid

Tape
worm

Moth

Lobster

Activity 2: Invertebrates seen in your Community

Directions: Write ten (10) names of invertebrate animals that can be seen in your
house or backyard. Write whether the animal is a porifera, cnidaria, worm,
echinoderm, mollusk, or arthropod. Write your answer on the table below.

Name of Invertebrate Animal Name of Group or Classification

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Remember

Animals are group into two groups. They are vertebrates and invertebrates.
Vertebrates have backbones. Invertebrates are animals without backbones.
Invertebrates can be classified as Arthropod, Mollusk, Porifera, Echinoderm,
Cnidaria or Worms. Sponges are examples of poriferans, or pore bearing animals
and have holes. Echinoderms are invertebrates with spines. Roundworms are
unsegmented. Mollusks are soft bodied animals. Insects are arthropods with 3
pairs of legs. Arachnids like spiders are arthropods with 8 legs. Crustaceans are
arthropods with shells or exoskeleton which is made of chitin and calcium.

Directions: Describe the following invertebrate animals. Give examples that can
be seen at home, backyard or community.

Invertebrate Animals Description Example

Arthropod

Mollusk

Porifera

Echinoderm

Cnidaria

Worm

Evaluation test

Directions: Read and understand the questions below. Encircle the letter of the
correct answer.

1. These are animals with no backbones.

A. Invertebrates C. Mollusks B. Vertebrates D. Echinoderms
2. Which of the following is not an arthropod?
A. Arachnid B. Crustacean C. Insect D. Sponge

3. During your virtual class, your science teacher asks you to describe the
characteristics of spiders. How will you describe a spider?
A. An arthropod with six legs
B. Arthropod with 3 pair of legs
C. Arthropod with eight legs
D. An arthropod with 10 legs

4. Which of the following shows an invertebrate animal with soft body?

A. octopus
B. crab
C. fly
D. bug

5. Which best describes a poriferan invertebrate animal like a sponge?

A. pores B. spines C. thorns D. vines

6. Starfishes:
A. They have holes.
B. They have spines.
C. They have pores.
D. They have thorns.

7. Sponges:
A. Their suckers absorb their food.
B. Their big mouth absorbs their food.
C. Their tentacles absorb their food.

D. Their pores are the passageway of food.

8. Mollusks:
A. They are stationary.
B. They are spined – skinned.
C. They are parasitic.
D. They are soft bodied animals.

9. Your science teacher sent you a link that shows you different invertebrate
animals. She asked you to tell the animal with 3 pair of legs, with thorax and
abdomen. Which animal is it?
A. grasshopper B. scorpion C. spider D. tick

10. Animals have body parts that are prominent to them. Which of the following
characteristics is only found in echinoderms?
A. They have 3 pairs of legs
B. They are spiny - skinned
C. They are covered with pores
D. They are soft bodied animals

Arthropods September 9, 2020 https://www.google.com/search?

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Cage September 8, 2020 https://www.google.com/search?
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cl&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CAAQ1vwEahcKEwjw84DxeLrAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAg&biw=1184&bih=
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%3Acl&hl=en&sa=X&
ved=0CAAQ1vwEahcKEwionKGvvubrAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAg&biw=1184&bih=70 9 Vertebrate
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