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N
ot all animals have skeletons on the inside. A very large number
of animals have skeletons on the outside of their bodies. This
kind of skeleton is called an
exoskeleton
. Exoskeletons are
made of hard, thin tubes and plates. All animals with exoskeletons are
invertebrates, or animals without backbones.
Who Am I?
Match each animal with its
description. Check your answers
below.
1.
Even the eyes of this animal
are covered with a tough
exoskeleton.
2.
Like all arthropods, this aquatic
animal must shed its exoskeleton
to grow. It hides from its enemies
while its new coat of armor
hardens.
3.
This land animal’s exoskeleton
has many different sections.
Joints between the sections allow
this animal to move easily.
4.
This animal’s exoskeleton creates
a hard shell all around it. The
two parts of the skeleton, called
valves, are opened and closed by
two big, strong muscles.
Animals are 1, tarantula; 2, crab; 3, scorpion; 4, clam.
Skeletons on the Outside
Tarantula
Clam
Crab
Scorpion
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