Invertebrates
“Quite simply, the terrestrial world is turned by insects and a few other invertebrate groups: the living world would probably survive the demise of all vertebrates, in greatly altered form of course, but life on land and in the sea would collapse down to a few simple plants and microorganisms without Invertebrates.”
E.O. Wilson
Invertebrates are living organisms without backbones. Their sheer numbers and diversity far outnumber all other forms of life. Common invertebrates include those living on land and in the water. For example, if you visit the intertidal zone you will behold crabs, starfish, sponges, sea anemones, snails, and worms. In freshwater ecosystems there will be a variety of insect larva that depend upon the water as they prepare to become adult insects.
Some invertebrates at Point Reyes National Seashore are federally endangered such as the Myrtle’s Silverspot Butterly. Others are common, although always interesting to see, such as the banana slug. And finally, some invertebrates will no longer be seen again, such as the Xerces Blue butterfly. This was the first butterfly in North America known to become extinct as a result of human interference.