Invertebrate Collections: Marine and other invertebrates
The Marine Invertebrate collection contains specimens from all invertebrate groups except molluscs, insects and spiders.
The current focus of the collection is on polychaetes (segmented worms) and crustaceans (lobsters, crayfish, prawns, crabs, seed shrimps, barnacles, slaters and pill bugs) which reflects the research interests of the marine invertebrate staff.
Crustaceans are animals that have:
- a segmented body with a hardened shell
- seven or more pairs of appendages for feeding, moving and reproduction
- limbs which generally have two branches
- two pairs of antennae
- gills for breathing
Polychaetes are animals that typically have:
- a long, basically cylindrical body
- a body segmented both internally and externally
- a pair of leg-like appendages (not jointed) attached to every body segment
Copyright © Australian Museum 2004