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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.