ZOOLOGY
Chapter IV
Triploblastic Metazoa
(Acoelomates and Pseudocoelomates)
General characteristics of triploblastic metazoa
- Triploblastic means having three primary germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm.
- In Triploblastic Metazoans, there is the appearance of the mesoderm (third embryonic layer)
which derives from the endoderm during embryonic development.
- The mesoderm allows the differentiation of internal organs (excretory apparatus, genital
organs) including musculature that will allow oriented movements (locomotion).
- It appears the movement in a particular direction: the animals have a front and a back.
• Appearance of bilateral symmetry.
Bilateral symmetry replaces the radial symmetry of cnidarians; therefore, the animal has an anterior
region, a posterior region and a dorso-ventral orientation.
This symmetry exists in the embryonic state but can disappear in adults as in sea urchins (Pentaradiae)
or in gastropods.
The movement is head forward.
• The cephalization
Cephalization is a development of the sensory apparatus and the nervous system: it promotes the
coordination of movements.
The sensory organs are grouped in the anterior region, near a main nervous system (brain).
It is the development of the head if there is a “brain”, sensory organs and a mouth.
• In Triploblastics, there are three groups:
- Acoelomates,
- Pseudocoelomates
- Coelomates.
These groups are differentiated by the structure of the mesoderm
Acoelomates: the mesoderm forms a thick tissue called parenchyma which fills the body spaces.
Animal without a coelom, or body cavity
Ex: Flatworms (phylum Platyelminthes)
Pseudocoelomates: they have a false coelom. Their organs are located in a body cavity which is called
the visceral or primary cavity. However, the mesoderm partially participates in the delimitation of this
cavity (on the external side only)
Ex: Phylum Nematoda (roundworms)
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Cœlomates (Eucoelomates): have a true coelom (eucoelomates), the mesoderm forms a hollow tissue
favoring the appearance of coelomic vesicles. Ex: Annelids
Triploblastic colomates (eucoelomates) can be divided into two groups based on differences in their
early embryonic development: Protostomes and Deuterostomes.
Protostomes ((Protostomia): proto- "first»; stoma "mouth"
any animal in which the mouth is derived first from the embryonic blastopore (“mouth first”) while
the anus is formed by a secondary orifice.
Protostomes include phyla such as arthropods, mollusks, and annelids.
Deuterostomes: deutero-, second; -stoma, mouth.
Animals in which the embryonic blastopore gives the anus and the mouth is formed in a second stage
(by a secondary orifice).
Deuterostomes include the chordates and echinoderms.
• Evolution of nervons system
Hyponeurians: Animals that have Ventrally situated central nervous systems are called hyponeurians
Epineurians: Animals that have dorsally situated central nervous systems are called epineurians
Note: Protostomes are Hyponeurians; Deuterostomes are Epineurians
Epithelioneurians: The nervous system, in a dorsal position, is diffuse and located under the
epidermis, from which it is often poorly separated.
Note: Echinoderms are epithelioneurian deuterostome animals.
Figure 1: Development of protostomes and deuterostomes.
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IV.2. Acœlomates (Phylum Platyhelminthes)
IV.2.1. General characteristics
- Platyhelminthes are the most primitive triploblastics.
- They have a dorso-ventral flattening with, obviously, the existence of the dorsal and ventral
faces.
- The body is organized into two different regions:
• The cephalic region, anterior (sensory functions).
• The posterior region, caudal.
- There is no true circulatory system: therefore, no blood. However, there is a liquid present in
the parenchyma space (hemolymph).
- The respiratory system is absent: gas exchanges take place through the animal's integument.
- The digestive system is either incomplete or absent: If it is incomplete, it is because it lacks
an anus; If it is absent, exchanges will be possible by osmosis (for parasites).
IV.2.2. Classification of Platyhelminthes (Flatworms)
Platyhelminthes include about 50,000 species and can be free-living or parasitic. There are six
classes but we will only see 4 here:
About 80% are parasites. One class lives free: Turbellaria and the others (Cestoda, Monogenea
and Trematoda) are parasites.
IV.2.2.1. Class Turbellaria
A/ General characteristics
- Turbellarians are mainly aquatic (freshwater/marine), with some terrestrial forms (in tropical
rainforests).
- Mostly free-living
- Non-segmented foliose body covered by a ciliated epithelium (the beating of cilia on the
epithelium allows locomotion).
- They have an anterior region with two eyes (or more) and auricles.
B/ Internal anatomy
a. Integument
The integument of turbellaria is lubricated by mucus, is covered with vibratile cilia determining
whirlpools (turbellae in Latin) that facilitates their locomotion.
b. Nervous system and sensory organs
It is often concentrated in the upper extremity where sensory organs appear
Turbellarians are the first animals to possess a well-defined central nervous system.
Made up of two cerebral ganglia from which nerve cords emerge, including two larger ventral ones.
- Auricles: sensory lobes that may project from side of head and that detect touch, water
currents, and chemicals
- Ocelli: Two eye spots that orient the animal to the direction of light
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c. Digestive system
characterized by:
- Incomplete digestive system (Absence of anus)
- Composed of a mouth that opens in the posterior 1/3 of the animal, a pharynx and an intestine.
- The pharynx can be simple, bulbous or pleated (with a devaginable and retractable proboscis
that allows the capture of the prey).
- The intestine: its shape is different from one order to another.
Ex: formed of three branches in the order of Triclades (planarians).
- The mouth = anus, the discharge of excrement is preceded by an entry of water which will be
strongly expelled while it is loaded with excrement.
d. Genital apparatus: Proterandric hermaphrodites
e. respiratory system: Absence of the respiratory system (cutaneous respiration).
c. Excretory apparatus
It is composed of two collecting channels (lateral longitudinal) ending in flame cells (protonephridia).
Figure 2: Planarian anatomy.
C/ Biology of the Turbellaria
• Reproduction
Turbellarians are hermaphrodites, meaning that each individual animal possesses both male and female
anatomy.
However, there is no self-fertilization because they are protandrous hermaphrodites (male sexual
maturity occurs before female sexual maturity).
Reproduce in autumn by cross-fertilization
Oviparous: the eggs are found in cocoons attached to the support, in groups of 4 to 6.
Development is direct, without an intermediate larval stage.
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• Locomotion
- Creeping: movement using the beating of their cilia which cover the entire ventral surface, crawling
on a layer of mucus secreted by the cells of the epidermis
- Swimming: caused by undulations of the periphery of the body following muscular contractions
• Diet
Zoophagous predatory carnivores. They feed on protozoa, sponges, crustaceans or worms sometimes
larger than themselves.
• Have few predators, seem protected by a repellent mucus secreted by glands. Habitat and
distribution are found at all depths on rocky or sandy substrates
D/ Classification of Turbellaria
The systematics is based on the shape and structure of the digestive system. We distinguish four orders
Order 1: Acoela
The digestive system is reduced.
It contains the mouth and a small oral cavity (there is no pharynx or intestine).
The forms of this order are essentially marine.
Order 2: Rhabdocoela
They have a mouth, a pharynx and a simple straight intestine.
Order 3: Polycladida
The intestine is very developed and branched.
The branches are radiating from the center of the animal.
Order 4: Triclada
The intestine is formed by three branches (one anterior and two posterior).
In addition, each of the branches is diverticulated.
We can distinguish three suborders (in the Tricladida) according to the ecology of the species:
- Terricoles are terrestrial.
- Maricoles are marine.
- Paludicoles are freshwater.
IV.2. 2.2. Class Trematoda (Trema = hole) = suckers
A/ General characteristics
- Trematodes are flatworms that are internal parasites of vertebrates.
- Their body is foliaceous, not segmented.
- Their cycle involves two or more hosts: they are heteroxenous.
- They resemble Turbellarians.
- The major differences are due to parasitism:
• There is loss of the epithelium's ciliature (no movement).
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• There is regression of the sense organs (in relation to the loss of locomotion): we will speak of a
"regressive evolution" observed in Trematodes.
• The attachment apparatus generally consists of two suckers, one oral (buccal) and the other
ventral “acetabulum “.
Animals with two suckers are called "distomes."
• Development is indirect, with many asexual larval forms.
B/ Internal anatomy
a. The integument of Trematodes resembles that of Turbellarians. This integument is covered by a
cuticle with scales or spines.
b. Nervous system. The nervous system is concentrated behind the oral sucker. Its structure is close
to that of Turbellarians.
c. Digestive system formed by a mouth opening in the center of the anterior sucker, a pharynx, an
esophagus and a bifid intestine with two branches: caecum.
No anus
d. Excretory system.
The structure of the excretory system is identical to that of Turbellarians (protonephridial) with a
dense canicular network.
e. Genital system: Proterandric hermaphrodites.
Figure 3: Trematoda anatomy.
Examples
Exp1: lancet liver fluke, Dicrocoelium dendriticum.
This moth lives in the bile ducts of sheep. The adult is about 10 mm long and 2 to 3 mm wide.
There are two intermediate hosts:
- Terrestrial gastropod (helix)
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- and an ant (formica)
Exp2: common liver fluke or the sheep liver fluke Fasciola hepatica,
• 2 to 3 cm.
• Intermediate host: mollusc
• Fasciolosis agent, parasite in the adult hepatobiliary system of sheep, humans and cattle.
If humans consume contaminated plants, they can be infected and suffer from distomatosis. However,
humans are not essential to the Fasciola cycle
IV.2.2.3. Class Monogenea (= Polystomatoinea)
A/ General characteristics
- Monogena is a monoxen (single host) and monogene (single larval form) parasite.
• Depending on the species, external parasites may be found in fish, crustaceans, cephalopods or
batracians.
- Generally, they are parasites that cause little damage.
- They are especially dangerous for intensive livestock.
B/ Morphology
- The mouth is anterior or ventral.
- There are several suction cups: the anterior is called “cotylophore”; the other suction cups are
posterior, with hooks.
Example: Polystoma integerrinum
• It is a parasite of the red frog (Rana temporaria)
Figure 4 : Morhology of Monogenea
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ZOOLOGY
IV.2. 2.4. Class Cestoda
A/ General characteristics
- Cestodes are parasites of the digestive tract of higher vertebrates.
- Their bodies are flattened, segmented, more or less ribbed.
- They are generally long animals: 12 to 20 meters for the largest.
- They have no digestive tract or respiratory system.
B/ Morphology
The body is divided into three parts:
- Anterior region: This is the scolex; it carries the fastening device: suction cups and/or crown hooks.
- Growth zone or neck: This is where the body segments of the animal are formed.
- Strobila: It occupies 9/10th of the body. It is formed by a succession of segments (proglottids).
C/ Internal anatomy
- The integument: The integument is composed of a thick cuticle providing protection against
the host’s digestive enzymes. This cuticle is covered by microtrichia (thorns).
- The nervous system: The nervous system is located in the scolex and consists of two cerebroid
ganglia with anterior and posterior extensions. There is no differentiated sensory organ but
many nerve endings end in the cuticle.
- The reproductive system: Cestodes are protandrous hermaphrodites. Each segment
(proglottid) contains a male genital tract and a female genital tract. A genital pore is common
to both sexes: it is the genital atrium.
D\ Classification of Cestoda
The classification of cestodes is based on the structure of the scolex, the genital tract and the
particularities of the parasitic cycle. There are two subclasses:
- Subclass Cestodaria: Don’t have scolex
- Subclass Eucestoda: Have distinct scolex
The subclass Eucestoda is divided in two orders
- O: Cyclophyllidea: the scolex has four suckers with radial muscle fibers.
Example: Tænia saginata
This worm measures 4 to 12 meters long and its lifespan reaches 30 years or more.
Its scolex is devoid of hooks but it has four suckers
- O: Pseudophyllidea: the scolex has two depressions, one dorsal and one ventral. The
musculature is poorly differentiated.
Example: Tænia solium
This worm can measure up to three meters long (or 1000 proglottids). The scolex has a double
crown of hooks
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ZOOLOGY
Figure 5: Morphology of Taenia solium.
IV.3. Pseudocoelomates (Phylum: Nematoda)
IV.3. 1. General characteristics of Pseudocoelomates
- Pseudocoelomates have their organs located in a body cavity that has real advantages.
This is called the visceral or primary cavity. However, the mesoderm only partially participates
in the delimitation of this cavity (on the external side only).
- The cavity contains a few amoeboid cells.
- The digestive tract and gonads are suspended in this cavity.
- Seven phyla are defined including Nematodes, Nematomorphs and Rotifers… Only
nematodes are studied in this course
IV.3. 2. Phylum Nematoda
- There are several tens of thousands of species (80,000) but they are difficult to identify.
- Nematodes are often parasites of plants or animals (including humans) and cause
nematodosis (dangerous).
A/ Morphology
- Nematodes are worms with a circular section, tapered at both ends.
- • The mouth opens at the anterior end and is surrounded by three lips
- (one dorsal and two ventral) bearing cephalic bristles with a sensory role.
- • The female has a posterior end that carries the anus.
- • The male has a posterior end rolled up ventrally, and which carries, in a sub-terminal position,
a sub-cloacal orifice where copulatory sexual spicules are found.
- • The female has an annular constriction in the anterior third of the body and it is at this level
that the ventral genital orifice opens.
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ZOOLOGY
B/The major groups of nematodes
There are two main groups:
- Aphasmids: they do not have a phasmid and are parasites.
- Phasmids: they have two phasmids and are free, living in the soil or in rotten matter; otherwise,
they can be parasites of plants or animals
According to the ecology and ethology of Nematodes, we distinguish:
a. Free-living Nematodes: represent more than half of the known Nematodes. They are all small
(a few millimeters). live in water, soil, deserts, polar snows, thermal waters.
b. Phytoparasitic Nematodes: These are formidable destroyers of cultivated plants.
They cause an interruption in growth, the formation of specific galls and the decline of plants.
c. Zooparasitic Nematodes: parasites of invertebrates and vertebrates
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