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Unit 8: Invertebrates

Chapter 27: Mollusks and Segmented Worms

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Invertebrate Zoology
Start at the snail and sea slug page to find out about their characteristics. Then click on the segmented worm link and find out about their characteristics. Make a Venn Diagram that compares the characteristics of these two groups of animals.

Backyard Nature
This site divides your backyard into different categories from plants to tools for naturalists. Click on “Animals in Your Backyard” to go to a list of animal groups. Select both mollusks and segmented worms to investigate. Find out where you might discover slugs or snails in your backyard. See if you can find any and record what the habitat is like where you find them.

In Search of Giant Squid
The Smithsonian Institute has developed this interactive online exhibit about the giant squid. There seems to be more questions than answers about this elusive animal. What were some of the early myths about giant squid? We have learned some facts about the giant squid, for example, do giant squid have a predator? If so, what is it? What do squid have in common with snails?

Polychaete Worms
Visit this page for a brief summary of characteristics of ocean-living segmented worms. What are the features that polychaetes have in common? Select one of the species on this page and build a 3-D model of it.

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Medicinal Leeches
A surgeon at the University of Missouri raises leeches for microsurgery cases. Find out why the leeches can only be used once.

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Earthworm Behavior and Habitat
Earthworms are found at three basic levels in the soil. What are those levels? What differences in diet do the worms from each group have?

Earthworms and Nauvik
Worms are very important organisms on Earth, but can they be useful in space too? Read this site to find out how earthworms may be used in space. What kind of environmental requirements will the earthworms have in space? What would the major purpose of earthworms on Nauvik be?

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Ammonites
This site gives a nice overview of ammonites and what they look like. How are ammonites classified? View the thumbnails and read the descriptions of the ammonites found on this website. Make a database showing the locations that these fossils came from.

American Museum of Natural History - Ammonites
Ammonites are one of many types of fossils that are studied today. How can the presence of ammonite fossils help scientists determine where ancient seas were? What eras did the ammonites thrive in?

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Pearls in Human History
Visit this site and follow the links to read about the ancient history of pearls. What development in the pearl industry made them more available to more people? What is the significance of the Aphrodite pin?

The History of Pearling
This site provides information about early pearling off the Australian coast. What were some causes of death for early pearl divers? What kept the divers on the ocean floor?

Kokichi Mikimoto
Visit this site to learn about the first person to culture a pearl and the company that he built. The increased demand for pearls during the late 1800’s led Mikimoto into culturing pearls. When did the government of Japan grant him a patent for his pearl?