selkärankattomat

Selkärankattomat is the Finnish term for invertebrates, a broad group of animals that lack a vertebral column or backbone. This classification encompasses a vast majority of animal species on Earth, estimated to be around 95%. Despite their lack of a backbone, invertebrates exhibit an astonishing diversity of forms, habitats, and life strategies.

The group includes familiar creatures such as insects, spiders, and crustaceans, which make up the arthropods, the largest phylum within invertebrates. Other major groups include mollusks, like snails and clams, and annelids, such as earthworms and leeches. Simpler invertebrates like sponges, jellyfish, corals, and sea stars are also part of this diverse category, belonging to phyla like Porifera, Cnidaria, and Echinodermata. Even microscopic organisms like rotifers and tardigrades are considered invertebrates.

Invertebrates play crucial roles in ecosystems worldwide. They are essential for pollination, nutrient cycling, decomposition, and serve as a primary food source for many other animals, including vertebrates. Their study is vital for understanding biodiversity, ecological processes, and even for developing new medicines and technologies. The sheer variety within selkärankattomat means that their evolutionary history is complex and still an active area of scientific research.