specific characters of different phyla
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Answer:
Phylum Porifera
Porifera means organisms with holes. They are commonly known as Sponges. Features of the poriferan are:
Non-motile, multicellular organisms with the hard outer skeleton.
Have a porous body.
Pores on the bodies create a canal system which helps in the circulation of substances.
Not differentiated into head and tail; do not have a well-developed organ or organ system.
Include marine habitat.
Sponges
Example of phylum Porifera includes- Spongilla, Sycon.
Phylum Coelenterata (Cnidaria)
The term Coelenteratais derived from the Greek word “kilos” which means hollow-bellied. Their features are:
Have a hollow body cavity.
The body is differentiated into two ends.
Includes all aquatic animals.
The body is made of two layers of cells: inner and outer linings.
Live in colonies (corals) as well as solitary (Sea anemone).
"Coelenterata
Example of phylum Coelenterata includes – Hydra, Jellyfish.
Phylum Platyhelminthes
Platyhelminthes are commonly known as flatworms. Their features are:
Dorsoventrally flattened body.
Complex and have differentiated body structure.
Tissues are differentiated from three layers of cells and are triploblastic.
Do not have a true internal cavity or coelom.
Have bilateral symmetry.
Either free-living (Planaria) or parasitic (liver flukes).
Platyhelminthes
Example of phylum Platyhelminthes includes -Tapeworm, Planaria.
Phylum Nematoda
Phylum Nematoda consists of nematodes or roundworms. Their features are:
Nematodes have a cylindrical body.
Bilaterally symmetrical and triploblastic.
Have pseudocoelom, a false body cavity.
Parasitic and causes diseases such as elephantiasis, ascariasis.
Example of phylum Nematoda includes – Ascaris, Wuchereria.
Phylum Annelida
Annelids are commonly known as segmented or ringed worms. They have the following features:
Have a segmented cylindrical body.
The body is differentiated into head and tail.
Bilaterally symmetrical and triploblastic.
Have a true body cavity.
Habitat: marine, freshwater, and land.
Example of phylum Annelida includes – Earthworm, Leech.
Phylum Arthropoda
Arthropod means jointed legs. Animals which have jointed appendages belong to this phylum. This is the largest phylum in the animal kingdom. Other features are:
They are bilaterally symmetrical.
Have jointed appendages, exoskeleton, and a segmented body.
Have well-differentiated organ and organ system.
Have an open circulatory system, but do not have differentiated blood vessels.
Arthropoda
Example of phylum Arthropoda includes – Spiders, butterflies, and mosquitoes.
Phylum Mollusca
Phylum Mollusca consists of a large group of animals. Features are:
Bilaterally symmetrical and triploblastic.
Less segmented body.
Well-developed organ and organ system.
Typically, open circulatory system.
Limbs are present.
Mollusca
Example of phylum Mollusca includes- Snails and octopus.
Phylum Echinodermata
The term Echinodermata is derived from the Greek words, echinos meaning hedgehog and derma meaning skin. Thus, echinoderms are spiny-skinned animals.
Radial symmetry and triploblastic.
Have true coelom.
Have hard calcium carbonate skeleton structure.
Free-living marine animals.
Echinodermata
Example of phylum Echinodermata includes- Sea urchins, starfish.
Phylum Hemichordata
The characteristics of phylum Hemichordata are as follows:
The body is soft, fragile, and divided into a proboscis.
The epidermis is single-layered.
It comprises worm-like marine animals with an organ-system level of organization.
They have an open circulatory system.
They respire through gills since they are marine.
They have separate sexes and external fertilization is seen.
Development is direct.
Phylum Chordata
The Chordates possess the following characteristics:
They are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic with an organ-system level of classification.
They possess a notochord and a nerve cord.
The circulatory system is closed type.
Phylum Chordata can be divided into the following sub-phyla:
Urochordata
Cephalochordata
Vertebrata