Exoskeleton

insects · protection · anatomy

Built on the outside. An exoskeleton is a skeleton that sits on the outside of an animal's body, holding it up and keeping it safe. It's made of hardened material, kind of like the difference between a knight's armor and the bones underneath a human's skin.

Hard protective shell. Some exoskeletons become very thick and rigid, almost like armor. These hard coverings protect delicate organs and muscles inside from damage, bumps, and attacks from other animals.

Found in many creatures. Insects, spiders, crabs, and many other animals have exoskeletons. This type of skeleton is super common in the ocean and on land, protecting millions of different species.

Different from our bones. Unlike humans and other vertebrates that have an endoskeleton (bones inside), animals with exoskeletons wear their support on the outside. Both types work well, just in completely opposite ways.