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Crush-worthy cephalopods and beautiful bugs
Of the 1.3m spineless wonders in the world, you told us your favourites. Now it’s time to pick the winner
TL;DR
- The Guardian's annual invertebrate of the year contest celebrates the diversity and importance of spineless creatures.
- Over 1,300 reader nominations resulted in a top 10 list of invertebrates.
- Notable contenders include the microscopic Milnesium tardigradum, the large Bombus dahlbomii bumblebee, and the Lord Howe Island stick insect (Dryococelus australis).
- Other fascinating creatures mentioned are the bootlace worm, common woodlouse, cicadas, wandering glider, neon flying squid, immortal jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii), and horseshoe crab.
- Invertebrates play vital roles in waste recycling, crop pollination, and water filtration, and are essential to global biodiversity.
- Vertebrates, including humans, represent a small fraction of the animal life on Earth, highlighting the significance of invertebrates.