Echinodermata Research Paper

Moon Jellyfish are in the “Animalia Kingdom, Phylum Cnidarian, Class Scyphozoan, Order Semaeostomeae, Family Ulmaridae, and Genus Aurelia” ( Myers, 2016 ; Espinosa, ; 2016 ; Parr, 2016 ; Jones, 2026 ; Hammond, 2016 ; Dewey, 2016). The morphological description of Cnidarians are corals, sea anemones, jellyfish and hydroids. These cnidarians form a diverse phylum that contains ~9000 species, which live in aquatic (predominantly marine) environments. The phylum-defining trait of Cnidaria is the stinging cell, the nematocyte an extrusive organelle used for predation, adhesion and defense (Holstein, 1981; Lengfeld et al., 2009; Tardent and Holstein, 1982) (Steele and Technau; 2011). Also, this phylum, Cnidarians, are divided into two groups, “Anthozoa (sea anemones, corals and sea pens), which live as

The Earthworm is a crucial component of the environment due to their interactions with soil which then, in turn, provides benefits to other living organisms such as their burrowing behavior, which allows nutrients, air, and water to delve deeper into the soil. After soil is swallowed by the pharynx, the food matter is sent through the esophagus and into the crop, where the soil is stored until it interacts with the gizzard. The main function of the gizzard to grind the soils so that it can enter the intestine, where gland cells within release fluid to aid in the process. When organic matter is finally excreted from the intestine to the anus through the worm through the process of casting, more nutrients are introduce into the soil that benefit plant life. The earthworm also has a brain located behind its pharynx, called the cerebral ganglia, that is crucial for movement. The

Earthworms primarily communicate with each other through touch and taste. However, this communication is not often seen, as earthworms are known for their lack of social behaviour.

Echinoderms such as starfish, sea cucumbers, and urchins are identified by their symmetry and central mouth. This species is found decorating the coral reefs by their variety of color and sizes. Because some of these animals like to burrow in the sand, they can supply oxygen to some of the depths in the ocean. Echinoderms are a staple food in many sea animals diet.

The class of the Sepia officinalis is Cephalopoda which can be thought of in three groups: the Nautiloidea, Ammonoidea and Coleoidea each of which have adapted and evolved independently of each other (A Broad Brush History of the Cephalopoda). "Cuttlefish, along with octopuses and squid, are cephalopods—animals from an ancient branch of the tree of life that have been trolling the oceans for more than 500 million years. Cuttlefish were around long before the first shark or fish ever evolved. Their cephalopod ancestors were encased in a shell that acted as protection from predators, but the modern cuttlefish has developed an even better defense: camouflage" (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/animal-guides/animal-guide-cuttlefish/1161/). The Nautiloidea

Steele, V.J. 1984. Morphology and ultrastructure of the organ of Bellonci in the marine amphipod Gammarus setosus. Journal of Morphology, 181(1), 97-131.

True starfish are classified in the Asteroidea, a group of echinoderms. True starfish have no sharp demarcation between arms and central body, and they move using tube feet rather than wriggling movements of the whole arms. True starfish and ophiuroids shared a common ancestor in the Ordovician. Most starfish are predators, feeding on sessile or slow-moving prey such as mollusks and barnacles. (example: crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster specializes on corals, and may do considerable damage to coral reefs.) Many, but not all, starfish are able to turn a portion of their stomachs out through the mouth, and thus digest food outside of the body.

Echinoderms, named for their spiny surfaces, include an array of 70000 species which are all mostly sessile marine mammals, that lack overall body segments (Myers, n.d.). Nonetheless, typically ranging from 1cm-2m, they are known to have an extoskelton constructed from hard plates just beneath the skin, and possess a water vascular system- which their tube feet are connected to (Myers, n.d.). Additionally, they are known to show bilateral symmetry as larvae, but then after they metamorphose, feature a strong appearance of radial symmetry (Myers, n.d.).

When on land all the tentacles retract so they are not exposed to wind. The Anemone also has to be able to cope with possible salinity changes when it passes through rock pools and returns to the ocean.

They are dioecious animals that use external fertilization for reproduction, while Pterobranchia uses mostly asexual reproduction by budding. Their feeding patterns vary from each class, and feeding appendages help them obtain the food they need. They have sense organs such as photoreceptors and a single preoral ciliary organ which is in front of the mouth located at the ventral side of the proboscis of the animal (Dobbs. 1988). The proboscis is important for them because that is where all of the neurosensory cells reside (Barrington. 1965). Therefore, this phylum consists of about 120 species that are mostly known and some not except the main two classes introduced. New species of the phylum hemichordata are yet to

If you were able to turn back the clock about 354 million years ago, you would come across one of earth’s most interesting and vibrant period of time. You would see giant dragonflies and cockroaches, humongous ferns, green plants and trees, and even a “coal forest.” You would experience the beauty of the tall mountains and the creepiness of slithery millipede. So let’s turn back time, and revisit the jaw-dropping period of time known as Carboniferous.

There are two biological impacts during handling and storage of crustaceans such as oxygen and temperature. Crustaceans need oxygen to life. Besides, crustaceans have the ability to survive for some time out of water. However, when in air the animals may appear to be blowing bubbles, which they use to keep their gills moist and allow some exchange of oxygen. Meanwhile, this leads to a built up of waste products in the blood and gill chamber, which are released rapidly when the animal is returned to seawater. Storing the crustacean out of water will dry out the gills causing damage. It will prevent animals from recovering when re-immersed and this can result in high mortality. Crustaceans also developed a short term capability to cope with water that has low concentrations of dissolved oxygen. However, low levels of dissolved oxygen leads

Gryphus vitreus, like all brachiopods, is a sessile animal which lacks a distinct head. This species appears to be simple from a morphological viewpoint but does still possess some complex features, for example; it has no organs of locomotion but does possess a simple heart and a nephridia, which is its excretory organ. Despite this, this brachiopod has a small mass of nerve cells which comprise the ‘brain’ as it were, that controls metabolic activities and sensory actions. The shell of G. Vitreus is strongly convex with strong radical edges externally and this species is only 4cm in size (Coudre, Unknown). All brachiopod shells are composed of two separate parts known as valves. However, contrastingly to other bivalve organisms, G. Vitreus’ bilateral symmetry runs through the two valves and not between them; the hinge line of this species is on the anterior of the organism. As with all brachiopods, Gryphus vitreus has an epithelial lining of the shell known as the mantle which encloses the internal organs, creating an internal mantle cavity. The cavity is split into the inhalant and exhalant chambers, where the

b) Plant:1. Kingdom: Animalia 2. Phylum: Cnidaria 3. Class: Anthozoa 4. Order: Scleractina 5. Family: Caryophylliidae 6. Genus: Eusmilia. Animal: 1. Kingdom: Animalia 2. Phylum: Craniata 3. Class: Mammalia 4. Order: Carnivora 5. Family: Ursidae 6. Genus: Ursus

Beginning about 1850 Ma, we find acritarchs, spherical microfossils with thick and complex organic walls. They are probably dinoflagellates that spent most of their life floating in the plankton.