Invertebrate classification

Start with a map

Begin with the mind map titled “Invertebrates” that includes Porifera, Cnidaria and Bilateria. It places these names alongside examples such as jellies, sea anemones and corals. Follow the branches and make a note of the group names and examples you want to remember.

Next, look at the map that groups arthropods and molluscs. It names insects, arachnids, crustaceans and myriapods, as well as gastropods, bivalves and cephalopods. Use it to compare how the examples are organized. Another map adds details about arthropods, including body parts and exoskeletons.

Use flashcards for terms

The “Invertebrates” flashcards include radial and bilateral symmetry, body layers and coelom terms, as well as Porifera. After reading a map, use this deck to focus on the vocabulary. Say what you remember before looking at each card, then return to the map to see where a term or group fits.

A separate flashcard deck covers parasites and Platyhelminthes. You can use it when you want to look more closely at the terms in that deck rather than start with a broad map.

Pair a quiz with a map

After exploring the maps, try “Invertebrates and Their Phylums” or the quiz titled “Invertebrates.” Use your responses to decide which names to look up again. A map can help you place those names alongside related groups, while flashcards offer another way to review terms.

Explore the unit

Invertebrate classification is a section of the Invertebrates unit in Biology and natural sciences. The resources on this page offer different ways into that section, from broad group maps to more detailed vocabulary. Choose a resource that matches what you want to practice and work through it at your own pace.