Dear Mrs. Cerelli,

Yesterday we learned about invertebrates ( organisms without a backbone ). One of my favorite invertebrates is the sea anemone. It is a cnidarian, a species that is soft and has tentacles. It doesn't really move, it eats by sucking in plankton through it's mouth, and it reproduces through it's mouth. I saw it at the beach, but what really interested me the most is that it reproduces through it's mouth!

The types of species that we learned of yesterday were cnidarian, echinoderm, mollusc, arthropods, and annelids. The types of cnidarian are medusa ( adult ) and polyp ( baby ). They have nematocysts, which are stinging cells that are on the tentacles that can paralyze it's prey. Echinoderm are like brittle stars, starfish, and sea urchins. They have tube feet that helps them not to drift away.

Picture of Jellyfish

Brittle stars and seastars have 5 limbs that can regenerate when one of them get cut. They have very rough and spiny ( urchin ) skin. Molluscs are mussles and snails. Bivalves have 2 shells. Gastropods ( snail ) have a radula ( sticky tounges ).

Picture of a Gastropod

They both have a base. Arthropods are crabs. They all have exoskeletons ( a type of skin that protects them ). Crabs and spiders all have jointed legs ( legs that are all in 1 joint ). Flies, spiders, and crabs all have a complex eye. The last species are annelids which are worms. Their mouth is called a proboscis and another type of worm is the tube worm.

Picture of an exoskeleton

I am having a lot of fun here. It is better than staying home doing nothing until my dad gets up. I am glad that I actually signed up.

Sincerely,

Raul Maldonado, Jr.

Picture of me, Brian H., Imani

P.S. Miss Shibani says hi.