In Photos: Invertebrates

They may be spineless, but they're some of the hardiest creatures on Earth. Around 95% of all known animal species are invertebrates.

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Ants

Ants populate almost every habitat on Earth, except the Antarctic and some secluded islands. They also inhabit a wide range of niches and natural functions, such as the leaf-cutter pictured. The total weight of all the ants in the world roughly equates to the total weight of all humans!
Butterflies

Butterflies are the fully grown adult form of caterpillars and are among the most beautiful animals on the planet. Their eye-catching colours are not actually pigments but tiny scales that reflect light in certain ways to give iridescent colouring.
Snails

Snails are part of the mollusc group. They have a coiled shell which they can retract into and seal off with a mucus plug if necessary.
Nautilus

The nautilus is an aquatic invertebrate, and like the snail is a type of mollusc. It has a shell for protection, around ninety tentacles and a water jet system for propulsion underwater.
Octopuses

With no skeletal bones, octopuses can slip through very tight spaces. Octopuses have four pairs of arms, or tentacles, while the blue-ringed octopus' venom can be deadly to humans. Octopuses are some of the most intelligent invertebrates, and are able to solve complex puzzles.
Scorpions

Scorpions have a reputation for being dangerous. The chunky claws and curved tail with a venomous stinging tip make them a formidable predator, but only about 25 out of 1500 scorpion species could kill a human.
Spiders

Part of the arachnid group, spiders are found in every habitat of every continent in the world, excluding Antarctica. They have eight legs, 4-8 eyes and venomous fangs and they are also capable of spinning intricate webs of silk.
Mosquitos

Mosquitos are a species of fly - known for their blood-sucking tendencies. Mosquitos carry a number of pathogens and can infect humans with diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and filariasis.
Honey Bees

Honey bees are incredibly important to the health of our planet, helping to pollinate plants around the world. Their honey is collected by beekeepers, called apiologists.