Phylum Echinodermata NOTES April 11, 2012

Invertebrate Animals: Echinoderms Textbook: "Echinoderms: The Spiny Misfits'

Domain: EukaryotaKingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Echinodermata echino = spiny dermata = skin

Examples:

PHYLUM CHARACTERISTICS:*6000 species

*All marine with many traits unique invertebrate traits.

*Most are BenthicDefine:

*Planktonic larvae stage Pluteus larvae

*Adult Symmetry?

What is interesting about echinoderm symmetry over the course of their life?

What other phylum has the same symmetry as the adult echinoderm?

How does echinoderm symmetry differ from the symmetry of the phylum above?

*EndoskeletonDefine:

*Water Vascular System (unique to this phylum)

Function of W.V.S?

Tube Foot SEM

Phylum Echinodermata NOTES April 11, 2012

*Simple one-way digestive system. Starfish have interesting way of feeding.

*No real circulatory system. Nutrients and gases are transported, by diffusion, through the fluid filled body cavity.

*Breath via gills

*Knowledge of Nervous System is limited. Primitive nervous system (nerve net) controls tube feet and spines. Capable of some more complex behaviors.

What are some of these more complex behaviors?

*Separate sexes (mostly)

*External fertilization and development.Gametes do not survive long in open ocean. Spawning.

*Ciliated larval stage (meroplankton).

*Can reproduce asexually by Regeneration.Define: