Animals Without Backbones: Invertebrates

If you are asked to picture an animal, what comes to your mind first? A dog? A bird? Perhaps a zebra? Chances are you thought of a vertebrate, an animal with a backbone. But vertebrates, which include the animals we are the most familiar with—mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians—actually make up less than 5% of all animal species. All the rest of the animals alive today—more than 95%—are invertebrates, animals without backbones. Can you picture a spotted ladybug, spiny sea urchin, or slimy garden slug?

Animals Without Backbones: Invertebrates explores the lives of the many fascinating invertebrates that survive and thrive despite the lack of a backbone.

To order Animals Without Backbones: Invertebrates , call the Bank Street Bookstore at
1-800-724-1486.