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Invertebrates are a type of animal which are found all around the world, in lots of different habitats.

Invertebrates are animals that don’t have a spine or backbone inside their body. Minibeasts, like woodlice and centipedes, are all small invertebrates, but not all invertebrates are small. The giant squid can grow to over ten metres long!

Other organisms like you that do have a backbone are called vertebrates.

To protect themselves, some invertebrates, such as snails, have shells. Others have a hard outer layer called an exoskeleton. The first part of this word ‘exo-‘ means outside, so an exoskeleton is an ‘outside skeleton’. Ants, woodlice and spiders all have exoskeletons to keep them safe.

Next time you take a walk around your garden, the countryside or your local park, go on an invertebrate hunt. See how many you can find.

Remember that these are often minibeasts. You might need to look under stones, in trees or bushes, or under fallen leaves.