soft-bodied
Lacking hard parts
Soft-bodied describes creatures lacking a hard skeleton or shell.
The term applies especially to invertebrates like slugs, worms, jellyfish, and caterpillars: Soft-bodied insects are vulnerable to predators.
The compound distinguishes these animals from those with protective exoskeletons or bones.
Soft-bodied invertebrate, often shelled
- slugNaked terrestrial mollusk
- snailShelled, slow-moving mollusk
- octopusEight-limbed sea mollusk
- squidTen-armed marine mollusk
jellyfish · worm · caterpillar · larva · grub · sea cucumber · nudibranch · leech
Soft and easily compressed
- fleshyThick with soft tissue
- gelatinousViscous and semisolid
- pliableCapable of bending easily
- yieldingBending under pressure
mushy · pulpy · supple · malleable · doughy · rubbery · springy · pliant
Without means to resist
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- exposedOut in open
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
tender · susceptible · prey · predation · shell-less · hiding · camouflage · toxin
Immature feeding stage
- grubFood or larva
- maggotImmature fly stage
- caterpillarMoth or butterfly young
- nymphNature spirit or larva
pupa · aphid · mealybug · scale insect · whitefly · instar · molt · exoskeleton
mollusk
Soft-bodied invertebrate, often shelled
squid · jellyfish · worm · caterpillar · larva · grub · sea cucumber · nudibranch · leech · earthworm
squishy
Soft and easily compressed
- fleshyThick with soft tissue
- gelatinousViscous and semisolid
- pliableCapable of bending easily
yielding · mushy · pulpy · supple · malleable · doughy · rubbery · springy · pliant · cushiony
defenseless
Without means to resist
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- exposedOut in open
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
delicate · tender · susceptible · prey · predation · shell-less · hiding · camouflage · toxin · warning coloration
larva
Immature feeding stage
- grubFood or larva
- maggotImmature fly stage
- caterpillarMoth or butterfly young
nymph · pupa · aphid · mealybug · scale insect · whitefly · instar · molt · exoskeleton · cuticle
- animal traitsfur, tail, claws, teeth, wings
- cephalopodscephalopod, octopus, squid, nautilus, cuttlefish