Culture and maintenance of selected invertebrates in the laboratory and classroom

Invertebrate species have been used for many years in the laboratory and teaching environment. We discuss some of the most commonly maintained invertebrates--the nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans), the California sea hare (Aplysia californica), the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), terrestrial hermit crabs, the horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), and cephalopods--and briefly describe general techniques for culturing them in captivity. The aim of this article is to give potential users an idea of the materials, methods, and effort required to maintain each type of organism in a laboratory or classroom setting.