Phylum Echinodermata
Representative Animals: Starfish, Sea urchins, Sea cucumbers
Habitat: Unlike the last previous phylums, echinodermata are found in strictly marine environments.
Reproductive System: Species in phylum echinodermata Sexual reproduction.
Starfish can reproduce asexually by regeneration, but only if a portion of their centre body is also lost with the leg. Therefore if you cut a starfish into five, technically five will regrow.
Reproductive System: Species in phylum echinodermata Sexual reproduction.
Starfish can reproduce asexually by regeneration, but only if a portion of their centre body is also lost with the leg. Therefore if you cut a starfish into five, technically five will regrow.
Respiratory System: Most echinodermata use gills for gas exchange.
Digestive System: This is the first phylum where we see deuterostomes, meaning their anus develops before their mouth. Animals in phylum echinodermata have a simple digestion system that includes a mouth, stomach, intestine and anus.
Circulatory System: Open circulatory system. They do not have a heart, instead they rely on cilia to circulate blood and maintain pressure (though low), they also have a system of canals to help with transportation, but these differ from veins.
Type of Symmetry: Matured echinodermata have radial symmetry, but as larvae their symmetry is bilateral (this is an adaptive advantage).
Type of Coelom: Animals in phylum echinodermata are Coelomates.
Type of Body Plan: Their body has no segmentation but this doesn't mean it doesn't have repetition. For example, though a starfish is not segmented, it still contains the same organs in every appendage.
Number of body layers: Three body layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm.
Specialized Cells: Echinodermata have specialize tube feet. The tube feet assist with functions of the respiratory, circulatory and nervous systems.
Digestive System: This is the first phylum where we see deuterostomes, meaning their anus develops before their mouth. Animals in phylum echinodermata have a simple digestion system that includes a mouth, stomach, intestine and anus.
Circulatory System: Open circulatory system. They do not have a heart, instead they rely on cilia to circulate blood and maintain pressure (though low), they also have a system of canals to help with transportation, but these differ from veins.
Type of Symmetry: Matured echinodermata have radial symmetry, but as larvae their symmetry is bilateral (this is an adaptive advantage).
Type of Coelom: Animals in phylum echinodermata are Coelomates.
Type of Body Plan: Their body has no segmentation but this doesn't mean it doesn't have repetition. For example, though a starfish is not segmented, it still contains the same organs in every appendage.
Number of body layers: Three body layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm.
Specialized Cells: Echinodermata have specialize tube feet. The tube feet assist with functions of the respiratory, circulatory and nervous systems.