Phylum Porifera

General characteristics of Phylum Porifera

1. Kingdom: Animalia
2. Habitat: Aquatic, mostly marine, few are terrestrial
3. Habit: They are solitary or colonial.
4. Grade of organization: cellular grade of body
5. Shape: Body shape is variable, mostly cylinder shaped
6. Symmetry: Asymmetrical or radially symmetrical.
7. Germ layer: Diploblastic animals. The adult body wall contains two layers, outer
dermal layer and inner gastral layer. In between these two layers, there is a
gelatinous and non-cellular mesoglea containing numerous free amoeboid cells.
8. Coelom: Absent; acoelomate but spongocoel is present
9. Surface of the body has numerous perforation called ostia (for the entry of water)
and a large pore at the apex called osculum (for the exit of water).
10. Water canal system present
11. Endoskeleton: Either calcareous spicules (calcium carbonate) or siliceous
spicules (silica) or sponging fibers (protein).
12. Nutrition: holozoic
13. Digestion: Intracellular
14. Nervous system: absent
15. Circulatory system: absent
16. Reproduction:
 Asexual: by budding or gemmule or regeneration
 Sexual: gamatic fusion
17. Fertilization: Internal
 PHYLUM CNIDARIA

1. Kingdom: Animalia
2. Habitat: aquatic, mostly marine.
3. Habit: solitary or colonial. Each individual is known as zooid.
4. Symmetry: radially symmetrical
5. Grade of organization: tissue grade of organization.
6. Germ layer: diploblastic, outer ectoderm and inner endoderm. Mesogloea
separates these two layer
7. The body has a single opening called hypostome urrounded by sensor y tentacles.
8. Coelom: gastrovascular cavity or coelenteron.
9. Nematocyst: organ for capturing and paralyzing pray, present in tentacles
10. Nutrition: holozoic
11. Digestion is both intracellular and extracellular.
12. Respiration and excretion are accomplished by simple diffusion.
13. Circulatory system: absent
14. Nervous system: poorly develop
15. Many forms exhibit polymorphism ie. Polyp and medusa
16. Polyps are sessile, asexual stage
17. Medusa are free swimming, sexual stage
18. Metagenesis: asexual polypoid generation alternate with sexual medusoid
generation
19. Reproduction:
 Asexual: by budding
 Sexual: by gamatic fusion
20. Fertilization: internal or external
21. Development: indirect with larval stage
 22. (Koilos: hollow, enteron: cavity)
PHYLUM BRYOZOA

1. Phylum Ectoprocta are mostly marine and some are freshwater animals.

2. Un-segmented, bilaterally symmetrical, sessile, colonial coelomate animals of trimeric

construction except Monobryozoon which lives in solitary state.

3. The individuals or zooids of the colony are connected by organic substance.

4. Each zooid is covered by a cup-shaped exoskeletal case, called zoecium which is

calcareous or chitinous and gelatinous in freshwater species.

5. Usually each zooid of the colony is about 0.5 mm in length.

6. V-shaped digestive tract with anus at the outside of the lophophore. Digestion in both
extracellular and intracellular.

7. Respiratory, circulatory and excretory systems are absent in Phylum Ectoprocta.

8. Nervous system includes a sub-epidermal plexus with circumpharyngeal nerve ring.

9. Polymorphism is a common feature and physiological exchange takes place through

the pores of the walls among the colony zooids.

10. Bryozoans are hermaphrodites.

11. Gonoducts are lacking in Phylum Ectoprocta.

12. Sperms are released into the coelom and exit through the pores in the lophophore
tentacles.

13. Fertilization takes place both in sea water or in the metacoel.

14. Development takes place in sea water or in the special brood chambers of the
colony (e.g., Cheilostome sp.).

15. Cleavage is biradial in Phylum Ectoprocta.

16. A lecithotrophic larva, called cyphonautes is typically present in Phylum Ectoprocta.

PHYLUM ANNELIDA

1 . S y m m e t r y a n d S i ze
Annelids are all bilaterally symmetrical animals. They range in size from much less than
1 mm in length to more than 3 m. The smallest annelids described to date would appear
to be Neotenotrocha (Dorvilleidae, Eunicida) reaching only a few hundred microns in
length (Eibye-Jacobsen and Kristensen, 1994). Also within Eunicida may be found the
largest of annelids. A preserved specimen of Eunice (Eunicidae) at the Museum of
Natural History in Washington D. C. is close to 3 m in length and around 5 cm in
diameter in its preserved and contracted condition. Some earthworms, such as the
Giant Gippsland Earthworm (Megascolides australis), can reach 1 m in length. The
largest leech in the world, Haementeria ghilianii, is found in South America and reaches
more than 40 cm in length.
2. Coelom
Nearly all annelids have a fluid-filled cavity between the outer body wall and the gut,
and this is referred to as a coelom (Figure 1). The coelom is often used as a storage
area for gametes and acts as a hydrostatic skeleton for locomotion. The coelom (formed
via schizocoely) is generally organized as a series of compartments divided by
intersegmental septa. This compartmentalization means that if the worm is damaged
the coelomic contents will only be lost from a few segments, and locomotion can be
maintained. In other annelids there may only be a few septa dividing the coelom. Under
these circumstances much more coelomic fluid is lost with injury, and the worm may be
severely affected. A number of groups, particularly leeches and a number of small
polychaetes, have little or no coelomic space.

3. Body wall
Annelids have a body covered by an external cuticle that is never shed or molted.
Epidermal microvilli secrete a network of fibers that are in part collagenous and also
contain scleroprotein. Chaetae are also cuticular structures, but contain large amounts
of chitin. Beneath the epidermis and its basal lamina lies a layer of circular muscle. The
circular muscle layer forms a nearly continuous sheath around the body, except in
polychaetes with well-developed parapodia. Beneath the circular muscle layer lie thick
longitudinal muscles. In many annelids the longitudinal muscles are present as four
distinct bands

4. Parapodia
Parapodia are unjointed segmental extensions of the body wall found in many
polychaetes, though many do lack these features. They are also absent in Clitellata and
Echiura. Parapodia are equipped with musculature derived mainly from the circular
muscle layer and usually carry chaetae. Parapodia vary in structure but basically can be
considered to consist of two elements; a dorsal notopodium and a ventral neuropodium
(Fig. 3). In addition to bundles of chaetae, noto- and neuropodia can also have a variety
of cirri and gills. They are most elaborate in actively crawling or swimming forms where
they form large fleshy lobes that act as paddles. Parapodia of burrowing or tubicolous
polychaetes can simply be slightly raised ridges carrying hooked chaetae called uncini.

5. Nervous system
Annelids have a brain or cerebral ganglion that originates and usually resides in the
head. The brain varies in structure, with mobile active forms having the most complex
brains, and sessile or burrowing forms having simple brains with little differentiation. It is
connected to the ventral nerve cord by the circumpharyngeal connectives, which run
down each side of the pharynx. The ventral nerve cord, is usually made up of a pair of
cords that are bound together and runs the length of the body (Fig. 4). It varies in
thickness and dilates into a ganglion in each segment, from which pairs of segmental
nerves pass out to the body wall, muscles and gut.
6. Sense organs
There are six major kinds of sensory structures found in annelids. These include palps,
antennae, eyes, statocysts, nuchal organs and lateral organs (Fig. 5). Palps and
antennae are located on the head of many polychaetes. In some groups they are both
sensory while in others the palps are used for feeding. Nuchal organs are ciliated,
paired, chemosensory structures, innervated from the posterior part of the brain. They
are present in nearly all polychaetes, and Rouse and Fauchald (1997) suggested that
they may represent an apomorphy for Polychaeta. This has been challenged by other
authors who suggest that nuchal organs may be an apomorphy for Annelida as a whole
and have been lost in Clitellata/Oligochaeta (Purschke et al., 2000). Annelids also have
a variety of epidermal sensory cells that may be responsive to light or touch (such as
lateral organs).

7. Circulation and respiratory structures

A closed circulatory system is present in most polychaetes (Fig. 6), Echiura and many
clitellates. It is reduced or absent in leeches where it may be replaced by coelomic
canals. A limited circulatory system in which some of the major blood vessels are
present but the distal capillary vessels are missing is found in a number of polychaete
groups. A circulatory system is absent in many small polychaetes.

8. Segmental organs
In most annelids there are usually two fluid systems, the coelom and the circulatory
system, and both (if present) are involved in the excretion of waste products. To achieve
this excretion there must be ducts to the exterior, and these are generally referred to as
nephridia. Ducts, known as gonoducts or coelomoducts, are also required for the
transfer of gametes that develop in the coelom to the outside of the body on maturity.
The two different kinds of ducts are often simply referred to as segmental organs since
determining what kind of duct is present is problematic.

PHYLUM MOLLUSCA
General Characteristics of Phylum Mollusca:
1. Habitat:
They are mostly marine. Many, however, occur in fresh water and some even in damp
soil.

2. Body Form:
The body of molluscs is un-segmented with a distinct head, muscular foot and visceral
hump. Neopilina is a segmented mollusc.

3. Symmetry:
They usually show bilateral symmetry. In some molluscs like Pila, due to torsion
(twisting) during growth, the adults become asymmetrical.

4. Shell:
Shell is secreted by mantle. It is made up of calcium carbonate. Shell may be external
(e.g., most of molluscs), internal (e.g., slug, cuttle fish, squid) or absent (e.g., Octopus).

5. Mantle (Pallium):
It is a thin, fleshy fold of dorsal body wall more or less covering the body. It encloses a
space, which is called mantle cavity (= pallial cavity).

6. Body wall:
Single layered epidermis is usually ciliated. Muscles are un-striped and occur in
bundles.

7. Body cavity:
Coelom is greatly reduced. It is restricted to pericardial cavity (space around the fieart),
and to small spaces within kidneys and gonads (testes and ovaries). Spaces amongst
the viscera (soft organs) contain blood and form haemocoel.

8. Digestive tract:
It is complete.

9. Blood vascular system:

It is open type. It includes dorsal heart, arteries that open into sinuses; (spaces) and
veins. Blood is usually blue due to the presence of a copper- containing blue respiratory
pigment called haemocyanin. Among the molluscs, cuttle fish are exceptional in having
closed blood vascular system.

10. Respirator, organs:

These are gills (cteoidia). Mantle and pulmonary sae (in semi-terrestrial form).

11. Excretory organs:

Excretory organs are one or two pairs of sac- like kidneys. Gills are also excretory in
function. Ammonia is chief excretory matter.

12. Nervous System:

The nervous system comprises paired cerebral, pleural, pedal and visceral ganglia
joined by the nerve connectives and conumssures. Connectives connect dissimilar
ganglia; however, commissures connect similar ganglia

13. Sense Organs:

In many molluscs, eyes are present over stalks called ommatophores. Statocysts
(balancing organs) may be present. Osphradium is present in some molluscs for testing
chemical and physical nature of water.

14. Sexes:
The sexes are generally separate but some are hermaphrodite.

15. Development:
They are oviparous. The development is either direct or indirect (metamorphosis). When
the development is indirect it includes a characteristic larva, liger, trochophore or
glochidium. Asexual reproduction is absent.

PHYLUM PLATYHELMINTHES
 Their body is dorsoventrally flattened.

 They exhibit bilateral symmetry.

 Also, they are triploblastic, with three germ layers.

 They do not have a body cavity and are acoelomate.

 Body is soft and unsegmented.

 They are mostly parasitic with a few free-living

 They exhibit an organ system grade of organization.

 The digestive system is incomplete or absent. There is a single opening which leads
to a well-developed gastro-vascular cavity. The anus is absent. There is no true
stomach structure. In a few species, the digestive system is completely absent.

 Respiratory and circulatory systems are absent. Respiration generally occurs

through diffusion through the general body surface.

 The excretory system has protonephridia with the flame

 There is primitive nervous system present.

 These animals are hermaphrodites.

 Sexual reproduction happens through gametic fusion.

 Asexual reproduction also happens in a few species through regeneration and

fission.

 Fertilization is internal.

 The life cycle of these organisms can be complex, especially if they are parasitic, as
this may involve one or more host animals.
 PHYLUM NeMaHELMINTHES

General characteristics of Phylum Aschelminthes

1. Gr. Askos: cavity; helmins: worms. Nema: thread, helmins: worms

2. Habitat: They are marine or freshwater animal.
3. Habit: They are endoparasite.
4. Coelom: Pseudocoelomate which means they have a cavity called pseudocoel
between the gut and body wall.
5. Symmetry: bilateral
6. Germ layer; triploblastic
7. Grade of organization: Organ system grade
8. They are non-segmented round worm.
9. Their body is covered with cuticle.
10. Digestive system: simple type
11. The mouth is provided with hooks and suckers
12. Respiratory system: Absent
13. Circulatory system: Absent
14. Nervous system: poorly developed
15. Excretory system: Protonephridia and canals
16. They are unisexual or dioecious animals
17. Reproduction: sexual by gamatic fusion
18. Fertilization: internal
 PHYLUM HEMICHORDATA

Characteristic Features of Phylum Hemichordata

 Hemichordata is bilaterally symmetrical and triploblastic animal.

 They are exclusively marine animals.

 They can be solitary or in colonies.

 Hemichordata have a true body cavity or coelom.

 The digestive tract is complete with an anus and can be in the form of a U shaped
tube or straight.

 A buccal diverticulum is present in the proboscis.

 Body is divided into three regions – Proboscis, Collar and Trunk.

 Circulatory system in open type.

 Respiration occurs through gills.

 The proboscis has a glomerulus, which is the excretory organ.

 A primitive nervous system is present.

 Sexes are separate or united.

 Reproduction is mostly sexual reproduction.

 Fertilization is external.

 Development is mostly indirect. But a few species exhibit direct development.

 PHYLUM echinodermata

General characteristics of Phylum Echinodermata

1. (Echinos: Spines; derma: Skin)

2. Kingdom: Animalia
3. Habitat: These are exclusively marine
4. Grade of organization: organ system grade
5. Germ layer: triploblastic
6. Symmetry: Adults are radially symmetrical while the larvae are bilaterally
symmetrical.
7. Coelom: present ( coelomate)
8. Body without segmentation
9. The shape of the body is flat, star like, spherical or elongated.
10. Head is absent
11. Presence of tube feet
12. Presence of water vascular system
13. Mouth is present on ventral side while anus is present on dorsal side
14. Respiration: by papule, gills or clocal respiratory tree
15. Nervous system: absent, they are brainless organism.
16. Circulatory system: is reduced, heart is absent
17. Blood has no pigment.
18. Digestive system: complete
 19. Excretory system: absent
20. Sexes: mostly dioecious, rarely monocious
21. Reproduction:
 Sexual: by gamatic fusion
 Asexual: regeneration
22. Fertilization: external
23. Development: indirect with characteristic larvae

PHYLUM CHORDATa

Characteristics of Phylum Chordata

1. (Noton; back and chorda; cord).
2. Kingdom: Animalia
3. Presence of a notochord
4. They are backboned animals (vertebrates),
5. Most of the living chordates are familiar vertebrate animals.
6. Presence of dorsal hollow nerve cord
7. Blood vascular system: Present, closed type
8. Ventral heart, hepatic portal system and RBC are present.
9. Germ layer: Triploblastic.
10. Symmetry: bilateral symmetry body.
11. Coelom: Present. Well developed
 12. Presence of gill (pharyngeal) slits
13. Presence of post anal tail

PHYLUM ANTROPHODA

Gereral Characteristics of Phylum Arthropoda

1. Arthros; Jointed, podos; Foot)

2. Kingdom: Animalia
3. Habitat: mostly terrestrial, also aquatic
4. Insects are the most successful life form on the planet: they make up more than
half of all living things on Earth
5. Body has Three-part: head, thorax, abdomen.
6. Body is metamerically segmented
7. Three pairs of jointed legs (6 legs).
8. Compound eyes which contain several thousand lenses leading to a larger field of
vision.
9. They possess two antenna.
10. Symmetry: bilateral
11. Germ layer: triploblastic
12. Grade of organization: organ system grade
13. Coelom: hoemocoel
14. Chitinous (hard) exoskeleton, no bones or a skeleton
15. Respiratory system: by general body surface, by gills, tracheae or book lungs
16. Circulatory system: open type with dorsal heart.
17. Excretion: malpighian tubules or green gland
18. Nervous system: dorsal brain with ventral nerve cord
 19. Sexes are separate. Sexually dimorphism is present
20. Fertilization: internal.
21. Development: direct or indirect with larval stages.

PHYLUM ROTIFERA

SIZES AND SHAPE: There are thousands of rotifer species floating around inside
plants and aquatic ecosystems throughout the world, so there's a lot of variation in their
physical dimensions. Some resemble squares, circles and other geometric shapes,
while others have oblong or asymmetrical bodies. Rotifers are between 0.004 and 0.02
inches long with an average of about a thousand cells each, according to the Lamar
University Department of Biology. While they are clearly visible with the help of a
microscope, scientists have had a hard time studying ancient rotifers because their
small bodies make poor fossils.

BASIC ANATOMY: The rotifer body is divided into four sections: head, neck, body and
foot. The head supports a series of mobile tentacles called cilia, which propel water into
the organism's mouth, according to University of California Museum of Paleontology.
The neck region contains a throat-like tube that funnels water into the rotifer's stomach
and other organs, which are located in the body section. The foot protrudes from the
organism's rear as an oar or spine to give the rotifer some control over its movement in
liquid environments. Rotifers are bound by thin layers of clear skin, but many also have
a harder shell called a lorica. Rotifers are invertebrates, so they have no spine or
skeletal structure to maintain their shape.

FEEDING: The rotifer's jaws, called trophi, are found inside the throat behind the mouth
entrance. They break down edible material in the water as it funnels through the
creature's body. Rotifers may be small, but they certainly aren't the smallest critter in
most water ecosystems. They survive by eating small chunks of organic matter as well
as plankton and other microscopic creatures. Of course, rotifers themselves are food for
other animals, including shrimp and other shellfish.

GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION: One of the most interesting characteristics of

rotifers is their cells' inability to reproduce. The cells of most animals divide at regular
intervals to make up for dying cells. This process is essential for the long-term health of
humans and most animals. Cells of rotifera grow larger as the organism ages, but they
don't increase in number. Female rotifers are larger than males and are able to
reproduce asexually without the help of a mate. However, a male and female can
produce offspring through sexual reproduction during direct physical contact.

PHYLUM CTENAPHORA

The general Characteristics of the Phylum Ctenophora are:

 Biradially symmetrical, with an oral - aboral body axis .

 Eight rows of ciliated "combs" or ctenes , controlled by an apical sense organ at
the aboral pole.
 Incomplete gut (mouth but no anus ).
 No excretory, respiratory, or circulatory systems.
 Diploblastic , with ectoderm and entoderm , and a cellular mesenchyme , which
gives, rise to the musculature (some researchers feel
that Ctenophores are triploblastic , with a true mesoderm ).
 Adhesive structures called coloblasts (but no cnidoblasts or stinging cells as
in Cnidaria ).
 A diffuse nervous system consists of a nerve net, somewhat more specialized
than that found in the Cnidaria .
 A cydippid larval stage, monomorphic life cycle, never with a sessile
or benthic stage.

PROJECT
IN
ZOOLOGY
Submitted by: Steaven Achawon