Major group · Invertebrates
Invertebrates on FaunaHub
Invertebrates — animals without a backbone — make up the great majority of described animal species, from insects to corals and worms. This is the part of FaunaHub with the most room to grow.
Below, each group shows its coverage status. Several groups are still marked “planned” — they have no profiles yet and are queued for verified expansion batches rather than thin pages.
Insects
Partial coverageSix-legged arthropods — the most diverse group of animals by described species.
Insects are widely regarded as the most species-rich animal group, though exact totals vary by source.
On FaunaHub (23)
On the roadmap (not yet profiled)
firefly, scale insect, shield bug, booklouse, webspinner
Crustaceans
Partial coverageMostly aquatic arthropods — crabs, lobsters, shrimp, krill, and more.
On FaunaHub (14)
On the roadmap (not yet profiled)
copepod, ghost shrimp, mantis shrimp relatives, krill relatives, goose barnacle
Mollusks
Strong coverageA huge phylum spanning cephalopods (octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, nautilus), bivalves (clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, giant clams), gastropods (snails, sea slugs, cone snails, cowries, limpets, whelks, abalone), and chitons. Representative, expanding coverage.
On FaunaHub (23)
On the roadmap (not yet profiled)
periwinkle, murex, sea butterfly, tusk shell, ramshorn snail
Echinoderms
Partial coverageSpiny-skinned marine animals — sea stars, urchins, sea cucumbers, and relatives.
On FaunaHub (3)
On the roadmap (not yet profiled)
sand dollar, brittle star, crinoid, basket star
Cnidarians
Strong coverageStinging-celled animals — jellyfish, corals, sea anemones, and hydrozoans.
On FaunaHub (9)
On the roadmap (not yet profiled)
hydra, portuguese man o war, box jellyfish, sea pen
Annelids
Partial coverageSegmented worms — earthworms, leeches, and marine bristle worms.
On FaunaHub (3)
On the roadmap (not yet profiled)
ragworm, lugworm, bristle worm, feather duster worm
Flatworms
Planned expansionSoft, flattened worms, including free-living planarians and parasitic groups.
On the roadmap (not yet profiled)
planarian, tapeworm, fluke
Nematodes
Planned expansionRoundworms — an enormously abundant group found in nearly every habitat.
On the roadmap (not yet profiled)
roundworm, hookworm
Sponges
Thin coverageSimple, filter-feeding animals (Porifera) anchored to the seafloor.
On FaunaHub (1)
On the roadmap (not yet profiled)
sea sponge, barrel sponge, tube sponge
Other Invertebrates
Thin coverageMany further invertebrate groups exist, from tardigrades to comb jellies and velvet worms.
On FaunaHub (11)
On the roadmap (not yet profiled)
peanut worm, arrow worm, rotifer, acorn worm, spoon worm
Sources
- Catalogue of Life — Global index of the world's known species
- GBIF — Global Biodiversity Information Facility — International biodiversity data network
- ITIS — Integrated Taxonomic Information System — Authoritative taxonomic information (U.S. partnership)
- Animal Diversity Web — University of Michigan — Peer-edited reference accounts for animal species
Coverage is representative, not a complete inventory. Taxonomy changes as science improves, and species counts vary by source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are invertebrates less covered?
Are there really that many invertebrate species?
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