Invertebrates - Disney Animals

Invertebrates aren’t just insects—they’re also shrimp, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, corals, clams and more. You can see some of these underwater wonders at The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot. Bug out while visiting Conservation Station at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, along the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and while you’re earning badges with the Wilderness Explorers, all at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park..

Finally, visit our gardens around the resort to watch the local butterflies, bees, and other pollinators fluttering by.

Invertebrates in the Wild
From the freezing waters of Antarctica to the steamy jungles of South America, invertebrates perform vital jobs that help keep humans alive: pollinating plants, controlling pest populations, keeping soil healthy and forming an integral link in food webs on both land and sea. They may be spineless, but they’re the backbone of a healthy ecosystem.

Whether in our pollinator gardens or mini ecosystems, inverts enjoy being part of the Disney family.

Inverts in the Mist
The research center on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail hosts a variety of African insects, including Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dung beetles. Inhabiting carefully controlled mini-environments, these bugs enjoy a small-scaled ecosystem that’s carefully monitored by Disney’s animal care experts.

Diving Deeper
Thanks to specialized, temperature-controlled aquariums and sand environments, corals, clams, horseshoe crabs, shrimp and hermit crabs can thrive without worrying about hungry predators at The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot.

The Walt Disney Company is passionately committed to the protection of invertebrates and their natural habitats.

Threats to Invertebrates
It’s tough to be a bug! Insects and other invertebrates face dangers from many sources.

Exotic Plants Can Spell Trouble
A garden filled with exotic plants can be bad news for invertebrates. Many insects, such as butterflies, lay their eggs on just 1 or 2 types of plants. Exotic plants can choke out native plants, including host plants.

Weeded Out
Many native host plants for pollinators are often considered unattractive, or weeds, and are torn up from natural areas, taking away critical food sources and habitats.

Invaluable Help for Invertebrates
The Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) is working with Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team to protect invertebrates. Support from the DCF is helping protect butterflies across the United States through habitat restoration, breeding and reintroduction of butterflies into the wild. Disney’s animal care experts and conservationists are helping marine invertebrates by restoring damaged oyster beds. With assistance from volunteers in neighboring communities, this restoration entails laying healthy new reef foundations on the ocean floor.