MSC 174 Marine Invertebrate Zoology

This is a listing of marine invertebrates. Just click on the name and detailed information about that particular invertebrate will appear.

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has a three-part mission to conduct interdisciplinary research in coastal ocean and estuarine science, educate students and citizens, and provide advisory service to policy makers, industry, and the public.

NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of the nation's ocean resources and their habitat. This is a listing from NOAA of invertebrates and plants in marine systems.

This is a photo list of marine invertebrates from the Monterey Aquarium.

This is an alphabetical list of marine invertebrate species with a picture of each.

Animals that lack backbones are known as invertebrates. Over 98% of species on Earth are invertebrates that rely on other strategies than a backbone for support such as hydrostatic pressure, exoskeletons, shells, and in some, even glass spicules. Some invertebrate phyla have only one species, while others like Arthropoda include more than 83% of all described animal species with over a million species. The most common marine invertebrates are sponges, cnidarians, marine worms, lophophorates, mollusks, arthropods, echinoderms and the hemichordates.

Invertebrates, which represent more than 95% of the known species on Earth, are animals without backbones. Diverse, interesting, colorful, and unusual, marine invertebrates make great additions to your home saltwater aquarium.