Taxonomic Class

Invertebrates Encyclopedia

Animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column. Showing 27 species cataloged in this class.

Mammals Birds Reptiles Amphibians Fish Invertebrates

MalacostracaLC

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Diet: Omnivorous grazer and scavenger
Wild lifespan: Commonly around two to three years in aquariums; wild longevity is poorly documented

InsectaLC

American Copper

Lycaena phlaeas

Diet: Herbivore as a caterpillar; nectar feeder as an adult
Wild lifespan: Adults generally live a few weeks; the full cycle may span months when dormant overwintering is included

ArachnidaAnimal group

Black Widow Spider

Latrodectus

Diet: Carnivore; mostly insects and other arthropods
Wild lifespan: No single genus-wide lifespan; females outlive males in studied species

InsectaNE

Boxelder Bug

Boisea trivittata

Diet: Seed-feeding herbivore
Wild lifespan: About one year, with adults surviving winter

CephalopodaVU

Chambered Nautilus

Nautilus pompilius

Diet: Opportunistic carnivore and scavenger
Wild lifespan: About 15–20 years or more

MalacostracaNE

Cherry Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

Diet: Omnivorous grazer, detritivore and scavenger
Wild lifespan: About 10–15 months in one invaded wild population and up to about 21 months in laboratory conditions

CephalopodaNE

Coconut Octopus

Amphioctopus marginatus

Diet: Marine carnivore
Wild lifespan: Probably about one to two years

ArachnidaNE

Deathstalker Scorpion

Leiurus quinquestriatus

Diet: Invertebrate predator
Wild lifespan: Exact wild lifespan is poorly documented

CephalopodaAnimal group

Dumbo Octopus

Grimpoteuthis

Diet: Deep-sea carnivore
Wild lifespan: Unknown for most species

CephalopodaNE

Giant Pacific Octopus

Enteroctopus dofleini

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Usually about 3–5 years

CephalopodaLC

Giant Squid

Architeuthis dux

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Probably around 3–5 years, based on growth studies and comparison with related squids

InsectaNE

Golden Tortoise Beetle

Charidotella sexpunctata

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Not reliably quantified

CephalopodaNE

Greater Blue-ringed Octopus

Hapalochlaena lunulata

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Approximately 1.5–2 years

InsectaAnimal group

Ground Beetle

Carabidae

Diet: Mostly predatory or omnivorous; many species also destroy weed seeds
Wild lifespan: Adults of some species live 1–4 years; family-wide variation is large

InsectaNE

Hercules Beetle

Dynastes hercules

Diet: Detritivore as a larva and frugivore as an adult
Wild lifespan: Larval development often one to two years; adults live several months

MalacostracaAnimal group

Isopod

Isopoda

Diet: Detritivores, scavengers, grazers, predators or parasites depending on lineage
Wild lifespan: Depends on the individual species and environment

InsectaNE

Japanese Beetle

Popillia japonica

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Usually one generation per year; adults live several weeks

ArachnidaNE

Joro Spider

Trichonephila clavata

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: One annual generation; adults die after the autumn breeding season in the documented U.S. range

InsectaAnimal group

Ladybug

Coccinellidae

Diet: Mostly predatory as a family, with fungal-feeding and plant-feeding exceptions
Wild lifespan: From months to more than a year depending on species and climate

InsectaVU

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Diet: Herbivore as a larva; nectar feeder as an adult
Wild lifespan: Most breeding adults live two to five weeks; migratory overwintering adults may live six to nine months

InsectaEN

Queen Alexandra's Birdwing

Ornithoptera alexandrae

Diet: Herbivore as a larva and nectar feeder as an adult
Wild lifespan: The adult stage lasts only weeks to a few months; the complete life cycle is longer and varies with conditions

InsectaNE

Red-legged Grasshopper

Melanoplus femurrubrum

Diet: Generalist herbivore with a preference for broad-leaved plants
Wild lifespan: Usually one annual generation; adults die with hard frost

ArachnidaNE

Regal Jumping Spider

Phidippus regius

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Usually about 1–2 years

InsectaAnimal group

Rhinoceros Beetle

Dynastinae

Diet: Species-dependent herbivore, sap feeder or decomposer
Wild lifespan: From months to several years including the larval period, depending on species

CephalopodaNE

Vampire Squid

Vampyroteuthis infernalis

Diet: Detritivore and opportunistic suspension feeder
Wild lifespan: Exact wild lifespan is unknown but appears much longer than the one-to-two-year lives of many shallow-water cephalopods

ArachnidaNE

Zebra Spider

Salticus scenicus

Diet: Carnivore; small insects and other arthropods
Wild lifespan: Typically about one year, varying with climate and development

InsectaNE

Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly

Protographium marcellus

Diet: Herbivore as a larva; nectar feeder as an adult
Wild lifespan: Adults usually live a few weeks; overwintering occurs in the pupal stage