Vertebrates/invertebrates

A vertebrate is an animal that has a backbone or spinal column. Examples include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

An invertebrate is an animal that does not have a backbone. Examples include insects, arachnids, mollusks, and jellyfish.

Mollusks are soft-bodied invertebrates that often have shells. Examples include snails, clams, and octopuses.

Arthropods are invertebrates with jointed legs and an exoskeleton. Examples include insects, spiders, and crustaceans.

Radial symmetry is a body plan in which body parts are arranged around a central axis, like a starfish.

Bilateral symmetry is a body plan in which the left and right sides of an organism are mirror images of each other, like in humans.

Asymmetry is a lack of symmetry, where an organism does not have a balanced or proportional shape, like an amoeba.

Porifera is the phylum that includes sponges, which are simple aquatic animals that filter feed and have porous bodies.

Cnidaria is the phylum that includes jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones, characterized by stinging cells called cnidocytes.

Echinodermata is the phylum that includes starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers, known for their radial symmetry and hard exoskeleton.