Biology: Life on Earth, 5th Edition Teresa and Gerald Audesirk

Comparison of the Major Animal Phyla

Common Name Sponges Hydra, Anemones, Jellyfish Flatworms Roundworms Segmented Worms Worms

(Phylum) Body Plan

(Porifera)
Level of organization Germ layers Symmetry Cephalization Body cavity Segmentation Digestive System Circulatory System Respiratory Respiratory System Excretory System (fluid regulation) Nervous system Cellular lack tissues and organs Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Intracellular Absent Absent Absent Absent

(Cnidaria)
Tissue lack organs Two Radial Absent Absent Absent Gastrovascular cavity; some intracellular Absent Absent Absent Nerve net

(Platyhelminthes)
Organ system Three Bilateral Present Absent Absent Gastrovascular cavity Absent Absent Canals with ciliated cells Head ganglia with longitudinal nerve cords Sexual (some hermaphroditic); asexual (body splits) Absent

(Nematoda)
Organ System Three Bilateral Present Pseudoceol Absent Separate mouth and anus Absent Absent Excretory gland cells Head ganglia with dorsal and ventral nerve cords Sexual (some hermaphroditic) Hydrostatic skeleton

(Annelida)
Organ system Three Bilateral Present Coelom Present Separate mouth and anus Closed Absent Nephridia Head ganglia with paired ventral cords; ganglia in each segment Sexual (some hermaphroditic) Hydrostatic skeleton

Internal Systems

Reproduction

Sexual; asexual (budding) Endoskeleton of spicules

Sexual; asexual (budding)

Support

Hydrostatic skeleton

Biology: Life on Earth, 5th Edition Teresa and Gerald Audesirk

Comparison of the Major Animal Phyla

Common Name Snails, Clams, Squid Insects, Arachnids, Crustaceans Sea Stars, Sea Urchins Vertebrates

(Phylum) Body Plan

(Mollusca)
Level of organization Germ layers Symmetry Cephalization Cephalization Body cavity Segmentation Digestive System Circulatory System Respiratory System Excretory System (fluid regulation) Nervous system Organ system Three Bilateral Present Coelom Absent Separate mouth and anus Open Gills, lungs Nephridia Well-developed brain in some cephalopods; several paired ganglia, most in the head; nerve network in body wall Sexual (some hermaphroditic)

(Arthropoda)
Organ system Three Bilateral Present Coelom Present Separate mouth and anus Open Tracheae, gills, or book lungs Excretory glands resembling nephridia Head ganglia with paired ventral nerve cords; ganglia in some segments, some fused

(Echinodermata)
Organ system Three Bilateral larvae, radial adults Absent Coelom Absent Separate mouth and anus (normally) Absent Tube feet, skin gills, respiratory tree Absent Head ganglia absent; nerve ring and radial nerves; nerve network in skin Sexual (some hermaphroditic); asexual by regeneration (rare)

(Chordata)
Organ system Three Bilateral Present Coelom Present (but reduced) Separate mouth and anus Closed Gills, lungs Kidneys Well-developed brain; dorsal nerve cord

Internal Systems

Reproduction

Normally sexual

Sexual