Recap:

Animal kingdom is broadly classified into two types, on the basis of the presence of
notochord. The Animal kingdom is divided into two types- Non-Chordates and
Chordates.
The Non-chordates are classified on the basis of the level of organisation into- The
Cellular level (phylum- Porifera), Tissue level (phylum- Cnidaria and Ctenophora) and
Organ and organ system level.
The phylum- Porifera shows cellular level of organisation. In the cellular level of
organisation, the body of an organism is in the form of an aggregate of cells and they
lack tissues. The phylum- Porifera (pore bearers) includes the pore-bearing aquatic
animals. The poriferans are found in warm shallow water and are absent in the cold
water. E.g. sponges.
The phylum- Cnidaria shows tissue level of body organisation. The characteristic
feature of the phylum- Cnidaria is the presence of the specialized cells called
cnidoblasts.
The phylum- Ctenophora also exhibits the tissue level of body organisation. They are
also called sea-walnuts and comb jellies. They are exclusively marine organisms. They
consist of eight rows of ciliated comb plates.
The Organ and organ system level of organisation is classified, on the basis of the
presence or absence of the coelom (body cavity). On the basis of the coelom, they can
be categorized into two types: Acoelomata (no body cavity) and Coelomata (body cavity
present). The Acoelomata includes the phylum- Platyhelminthes. The phylum -
Nematoda or Aschelminthes is kept under the category of Pseudocoelomates (false
coelom). The Coelomata includes the phylum- Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca and
Echinodermata.
Phylum- Porifera:
The unique feature of the phylum- Porifera is the presence of choanocytes.
Choanocytes are the collar flagellated cells. The beating of the flagella helps to maintain
the water current. The body of the poriferans or sponges is porous or pore bearing.
These pores are called ostia. These pores are like small mouthlets. The water enters
the body of the sponges through these pores into the body cavity called spongocoel.
The water leaves the body cavity of the sponges through the osculum. The sponges
have an excellent power of regeneration.
Phylum- Cnidaria or Coelenterata:
The phylum Cnidaria is also known as Coelentrata due to the presence of the
Coelenteron (body cavity) or the gastro-vascular body cavity. The gastro- vascular body
cavity helps in digestion of food and also distributes the food in the whole body of
coelenterates. The unique feature of the phylum- Coelenterata is the presence of
specialized stinging cells called cnidoblasts. The cnidoblasts function as offense and
defense cells, food capturing and anchorage to objects and other organisms and help in
animal locomotion. Some cnidoblasts or nematoblasts consist of a poisonous substance
called hypnotoxin which paralyses the prey.
Phylum- Ctenophora:
The phylum Ctenophora is exclusively marine. The members of Ctenophora are
commonly known as sea walnuts and comb jellies. The unique feature of the phylum-
Ctenophora is the presence of the eight rows of ciliated comb plates. They also consist
of tentacles. The nematoblasts are absent in this phylum. The members of this phylum
consist of specialized adhesive cells (sticky cells) called colloblasts. They are
hermaphrodite. They undergo sexual reproduction. The development in the members of
this phylum is indirect (larval stage present). The larval form of Ctenophora is Cydippid
larva. The members of the phylum- Ctenophora show the phenomenon of
bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is also observed in fireflies.
Phylum- Platyhelminthes:
The term ‘platy’ means flat and ‘helminthes’ means worm. The members of the phylum
Platyhelminthes are commonly called flatworms. The unique feature of this phylum is
the presence of a dorsoventrally flattened body. The body of the members of the
phylum Platyhelminthes can be leaf like (e.g. Planaria) and can be ribbon like (e.g.
Tapeworm or Taenia solium- Pork tapeworm). The cells which perform the function of
excretion as well as osmoregulation are called flame cells.
Phylum- Aschelminthes or Nematoda:
The members of the phylum- Aschelminthes are called roundworms because when a
T.s. (Transverse section) is cut of a member the section appears round. They can be
free living or can be parasitic in plants or animals. The unique feature of the members of
this phylum is the presence of an unsegmented and cylindrical body. The females are
generally longer than the males in the members of this phylum. They show sexual
dimorphism. The male is short and its tail is curved while the female is longer than the
male. They are dioecious animals or unisexual (separate sexes). The Ascaris
lumbricoides is a very common intestinal parasite in humans that causes Ascariasis.
This type of parasitic infection is more common in children. The excretory cells in the
phylum- Aschelminthes are renette cells or H-shaped excretory canal.
Sexual dimorphism means the male and the female can be identified by the external
and morphological characters.
E.g. of Aschelminthes are- Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworms), Loa loa (eye worm),
Ancylostoma duodenale (Hookworm), Dracunculus medinensis (Guinea worm),
Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm or threadworm or seat worm), Wuchereria bancrofti
(filarial worm) and Trichenella spiralis. The Wuchereria bancrofti is a filarial worm which
causes elephantiasis.
Phylum- Annelida:
The phylum Annelida consists of the annulus that are the grooves that are present on
the body of the members of this phylum. They are the segmented worms. The unique
feature of the phylum- Annelida is the presence of the metameric segmentation. The
common example of the phylum- Annelida is Earthworm (Pheretima posthuma). The
body of the earthworm or annelids is divided into the small repetitive segments that are
called metameres. The nephridia are the structures that perform the function of
excretion and osmoregulation. Nephridia are the ciliated, coiled tubules that help in
excretion and osmoregulation in the phylum- Annelida.
Metamerism or Metameric segmentation- When the external segmentation coincides
with the internal segmentation along with the serial repetition of some organs is called
metameric segmentation.
Phylum- Arthropoda:
The largest phylum of the animal kingdom is Arthropods. The phylum Arthropoda
consists of the maximum number of the species. The class- Insecta or Hexapoda (three
pairs of legs or six legs) is the largest class of invertebrates. There are a maximum
number of species in the class- Insecta and many of the species have not been
discovered yet. Insects are the only invertebrates that are capable of flight. The
trehalose sugar is used by insects for the metabolism or to perform the metabolic
activities of their body specially during flight. The unique feature of the phylum-
Arthropoda is the presence of the jointed appendages. The word ’Arthos’ means jointed
and ‘poda’ means appendages. The presence of jointed appendages allows multi-
directional movement and provides a better grip on the substratum or the surface.
Arthropods are considered successful animals due to the presence of a chitinous
skeleton that protects them from the adverse environmental conditions.
It is believed that the cockroaches may even survive a nuclear explosion.

Phylum- Mollusca:
After phylum Arthropoda, Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrates with
over 100,000 species. The term Mollusca is derived from the Latin word ‘Mollis which
means soft. It includes all the soft bodied organisms.
The second largest phylum of the animal kingdom is the phylum- Mollusca. They are
soft bodied organisms.
Can you think of a gem that comes from a living creature?
Yes, the answer is pearl. The pearl producing oyster is Pinctada (Pearl Oyster). The
Pinctada vulgaris is the Indian pearl producing oyster. The culture of pearls
commercially is called pearl culture. Japan is the leading producer of pearls. There are
different varieties or species of oyster that produce pearls. The pearl is produced as a
result of injury to the animal. If the shell of the oyster opens due to some reasons, the
sand particle or the dead organism enters the body of the organism. This foreign
particle irritates the mantle or the skin of the oyster; thus, the mantle keeps on secreting
the layers of epithelium and calcium carbonate around that irritant or irritating particle. It
can take about 3 to 5 years for the formation of a single pearl.
The shellfish belongs to the phylum- Mollusca and is consumed as a yummy cuisine.
Some Important Molluscs:
Pila globosa- (Apple Snail), Sepia- (Cuttlefish), Octopus, Loligo- (Sea Squid), Nautilus,
Aplysia- (Sea hare), Chaetopleura-(Chiton), Dentalium- (Tusk Shell or Elephant Tusk
Shell), Oyster, Shellfish etc.
Most of the Molluscs consist of a shell that can be external or internal. Some Molluscs
like Octopus lack shell.
Among invertebrates Octopus has a highly developed brain. The octopus can be made
to learn many things. The octopus Paul (Paul the Octopus) can predict the result of the
football matches. The maximum predictions by the octopus Paul were correct.
Some squids are quite large in size and can turn upside down the large boats and small
ships. Architeuthis or the Giant squid is the largest of the squid known.
The Shankha that is used for Shanka Nadam in Hindu temples is obtained from
Xancus (a type of Mollusc). It is also called as sacred chank or divine
conch.
The characteristic feature of phylum- Mollusca is Calcareous shell. The shell can be
present outside (external) and inside (interenal) to the body. In some molluscs the shell
is completely absent. E.g. Octopus. The shell is made up of calcium carbonate that is
secreted by the mantle of the molluscs.
Malacology: The study of Mollusc is called Malacology.
Conchology: The study of the shells of molluscs is called Conchology.
Habitat:
They can be found in both terrestrial (e.g. Apple snail) as well as aquatic (e.g. Mussel,
Octopus etc.) habitats. Some molluscs like the Pila (snail) show some kind of
amphibious nature; they can live on land as well as in water. The aquatic habitat can be
further classified into freshwater and marine habitats. The freshwater molluscs include
Mussel while the marine molluscs include Octopus. The saliva of octopuses is
poisonous.
Symmetry, Germ Layer & Body Cavity:
They are bilaterally symmetrical. Molluscs show bilateral symmetry that means the body
of the molluscs can be divided into two equal halves by a plane passing through the
single plane of the body.
Exception- The class-Gastropoda (adult Gastropodes) are asymmetrical. Gastropods
like snails undergo a process called torsion during the process of their development and
therefore, the adult Gastropods show asymmetry.
Torsion is the rotation of the internal organs during development.
They are triploblastic (possess three germ layers- ectoderm, mesoderm, and
endoderm), schizocoelomate (having a true body cavity or coelom that is lined by
mesoderm).
The phylum- Platyhelminthes, Aschelminthes, Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca and all
the other remaining phyla are triploblastic in nature.
The phylum-Platyhelminthes is acoelomate, the phylum-Aschelminthes is
pseudocoelomate (false coelom) and the phylum- Annelida onwards all the phyla are
coelomate (true coelom present).
Coelomate can be of two types- Schizocoelomate and Enterocoelomate.
Schizocoelomate- Schizocoelomate consists of a true coelom (body lined by
mesoderm). In the T.s. of Schizocoelomate animals, the blastopore (opening of the
blastula), mesoderm and primitive gut are observed.
They are considered protostomes since the mouth develops first from the blastopore.
(N.B. In case of deuterostomes, anus of the animals forms before their mouth during
embryonic development).
Protostomes: The organisms in which the mouth develops first from the blastopore of
the blastula stage are called protostomes. The ‘proto’ means first and ‘stoma’ means
mouth. The mesoderm of the blastula splits and the mouth is formed from the
blastopore in protostomes.
Blastopore: Blastopore is the opening of the blastula.
Deuterostomes: The organisms in which the anus develops first from the blastopore
are called deuterostomes. The archenteron of the blastula outpockets to form the
coelom and the anus is formed from the blastopore.
Exception: Octopuses do not have a shell to protect their body. Among invertebrates,
the octopus has a highly developed brain.
Body Segments:
The body is unsegmented, soft, and divided into the head, muscular foot, and visceral
hump which gets covered by a spongy layer called the mantle. (Only Neopilina, a living
fossil, has a segmented body among Mollusca). Neopilina is the living fossil that is the
only member of the phylum- Mollusca that consists of a segmented body. Mollusca
have a protective cover made up of a calcareous shell. The shell can be placed external
or internal to the body. The cuttlefish (sea foam) consists of an internal shell while the
Pila comprises an external shell.
Body Structure or Body Plan:
Molluscs have a distinct body. The body consists of the head, muscular foot, visceral
hump (visceral mass) and mantle. The head of the mollusc consists of sensory
structures (eyes and tentacles). The foot is a highly muscular and glandular structure
that is used for crawling, digging and swimming.
The visceral mass refers to the presence of the internal organs.
The mantle is a spongy layer or covering that covers the visceral mass. The mantle
layer also secretes the shell.
Mantle cavity: The mantle cavity is the space between the hump and the mantle. The
mantle cavity consists of feather-like gills called ctenidia. Ctenidia helps in gas
exchange, respiration and excretion (due to its thin lining).
The body of a mollusc is covered by a calcareous shell (except Octopus; they don’t
have shells). Calcareous shells are the characteristic feature of phylum Mollusca.
The head region consists of -
● Tentacles- Tentacles helps in feeding and sensory perception
● Radula- A radula, which acts as a unique rasping organ for feeding. Here, the
rasping organ is a flexible mouth-like organ that is used for breaking or cutting
the acquired food, with rows of teeth on the [Link] radula acts as a filing
organ and consists of a row of teeth that is used to cut the food. The Pila globosa
(Apple snail) feeds on the flowers and the leaves in the garden and destroys
them.
Gas exchange:
Molluscs consist of feather-like gills called ctenidium inside the mantle cavity which are
involved in the gaseous exchange and in the process of excretion.
Interestingly, the octopus has blue blood due to the presence of a copper-containing
pigment called hemocyanin instead of haemoglobin. Octopus have three hearts. The
saliva of Octopus is poisonous and they also consist of ink glands. The ink gland
releases a coloured ink that works as a defense mechanism.
Haemoglobin is an iron containing red coloured respiratory pigment that acts as an
oxygen transporter or carrier found in Vertebrates like humans.
Reproduction:
They show sexual reproduction and are dioecious (unisexual), oviparous (egg laying
animals), and undergo indirect development (which takes place by the formation of
trochophore larva). The larval forms of molluscs include veliger larva, glochidium larva
and trochophore larva.
The indirect development is observed in molluscs that means the larval forms are
present in them.
The indirect development is observed in phylum- Porifera (Amphiblastula and
Parenchymella larva), phylum- Ctenophora (Cydippid larva) and phylum- Cnidaria
(Planula larva, Hydrula larva and Scyphistoma larva).
Adults release gametes- male gamete (sperm) and female gamete (ovum). A sperm
and an ovum fuse together (fertilisation) to form stage-1 larva, which develops into
stage-2 larva. Stage-2 larva settles on the substratum and after its settlement, it is
called a juvenile. Juvenile eventually develops into the adult form.
Question- Locomotion in Molluscs is added by-
Options- 1. Setae, 2. Tube feet, 3. Muscular foot, 4. Limbs.
Answer- 3. Muscular foot.
Explanation- Setae are present in the phylum- Annelida. The members of this phylum
consist of extensions of the body wall called parapodia that consist of the chitinous
bristle-like structures called setae. The tube feet is a characteristic feature of the
phylum- Echinodermata and the limbs are found in various phylum. The muscular foot is
a characteristic feature of the phylum- Mollusca which helps in locomotion.
Locomotion:
Locomotion in molluscs is aided by a muscular foot. The creeping movement in
molluscs, (mainly in gastropods), occurs either by only muscular activity or by a
combinational action of ciliary and muscular activity. During creeping movement, the
muscular activity occurs by a series of wave-like contractions of the longitudinal
muscles of the muscular foot.

Phylum- Echinodermata:
Puzzle time- Who am I?
Cut my arms and I will grow it back! I can send my tummy out, fill it with food and take it
back! Put me in normal water and I will burst out before your eyes! No brains! No blood!
Answer- Starfish (Asterias). Starfish have an excellent power of regeneration.
A complete starfish can develop from one arm and a central disc.
The term ‘Echinodermata’ is derived from the Greek word ‘Echinos’ which means prickly
or spiny like Porcupine and the word ‘Derma’ means skin. They are spiny-bodied
organisms that are exclusively marine. Echinoderms are stenohaline creatures or
members (they can not osmoregulate properly, so they cannot tolerate a wide range
and fluctuation in the salinity of water). The Echinoderms are stenohaline creatures and
cannot tolerate a wide range of salinity. The term ‘haline’ refers to salinity or salt
concentration tolerance. The Echinoderms are commonly called sea stars, basket stars,
brittle stars, sea biscuits, sea urchins, cake urchins, heart urchins and sand dollars.
Another phylum that is exclusively marine is Ctenophora. E.g. Ctenoplana,
Pleurobrachia.
Some Important Members:
Asterias (Starfish), Antedon (Sea lily), Ophiura (Brittle star), Echinus (Sea urchin),
Cucumaria (Sea cucumber), etc.
Some Interesting Facts:
● Starfishes are capable of regenerating their arms if they are eaten or damaged.
● Putting a Sea cucumber Or Cucumaria or Holothurians in freshwater
causes it to explode.
Reason- The sea cucumbers when kept in freshwater (normal water) will not be
able to osmoregulate. They are marine and stenohaline organisms and will not
be able to tolerate a wide range of salinity and thus, will explode or burst when
kept in freshwater. Therefore, they prefer to live only in marine habitats.
 Osmoregulation means maintenance of water and ionic content of the body.
● The sea cucumber shows an interesting phenomenon of evisceration when in
danger or threatened. Evisceration is the everting out of the internal organs for
self defense.
Symmetry, Germ Layer & Body Cavity:
Echinoderms exhibit an organ-system level of organization. They are triploblastic
(developed by three germ layers- ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm), coelomate
creatures and are deuterostomes (the anus develops first from the blastopore).
Echinoderms are deuterostomes. In the blastula stage, the opening of the blastula is
called a blastopore. The mesoderm of the blastula splits and the anus is formed first
from the blastopore and therefore, Echinoderms are called deuterostomes.
The other phyla that show organ system level of organization include the phylum-
Mollusca, Annelida and Arthropoda.
The adults of Echinoderms are radially symmetrical while the larvae possess bilateral
symmetry.
Circulation or Water Vascular System:
The unique feature of Echinoderms is the presence of the water vascular system. It is
also called the ambulacral system. The water vascular system develops from the larval
coelom. These possess an efficient water vascular system for circulation which aids in
respiration or gas exchange, feeding or food capturing, food transport, and locomotion.
It consists of the madreporite or sieve plate, stone canal, ring canal, radial canal,
Tiedman's body, lateral canals & tube feet or podium which acts like suckers.
The sponges or poriferans consist of a water canal system.
The Echinoderms move forward with the help of tube feet. In the starfish, the anus is
dorsal (upper side) in position while the mouth is ventral (lower side) in position. The
dorsal side of the starfish consist of a button-like structure called madreporite through
which the water enters the body. The water then passes through the stone canal, then
ring canal, then radial canal, lateral canals and finally reaches the tube feet which acts
like suckers and performs the locomotion.
Excretory System:
Echinoderms do not have any specialized excretory system or structures.
Digestive System:
They possess a complete digestive system with the mouth located on the lower (ventral)
side and the anus located on the upper (dorsal) side, but they do not have an excretory
system. During feeding, the starfish takes its stomach out from the mouth and puts it on
the food. The starfish shows pentamerous radial symmetry and all the five arms radiate
out. The dorsal or the top surface of their body contains tiny, hollow, finger-like gills on
the body; sharp, bony spine and grasping spiny pincers covering the body; arms or rays
covered with tough skin; a flat disc at the center of the body and eyespot at the tip of
each arm. The ventral surface (bottom side) of their body contains a mouth with a
stomach that is pushed out to get food; Ambulacral groove with 2-4 rows of tube feet,
and suckers at the tip of tube feet. The tube feet are also called podiums. They help in
locomotion and gas exchange due to the presence of a thin wall of the podium.
Exoskeleton and Endoskeleton:
Echinoderms consist of the exoskeleton as well as the endoskeleton. They consist of
dermal ossicles that provide rigidity to the body.
They have a great power of regeneration.
Reproduction:
Echinoderms exhibit sexual reproduction. They have separate sexes and show external
fertilization in which the parents release both the gametes into the water. The male
releases sperm and the female releases ova or the egg cells in the water. They undergo
indirect development. The larva stage is involved in the development of Echinoderms.
The larva of Echinoderms are free swimming.
Larval Forms of Echinoderms: The Echinoderms show indirect development and
have different larval forms that include- Bipinnaria larva, Brachiolaria larva, Auricularia
larva, Ophiopluteus larva, Echinopluteus larva, Doliolaria larva, Pentacrinoid larva.
Larvae are free-swimming.
Development stages of Starfish (Echinoderms):
The fusion of gametes is called fertilization. After fertilization, the zygote is formed which
undergoes cleavage divisions and leads to the formation of 4-celled and 8-celled
stages. The 8-celled stage is followed by the formation of the morula which looks like a
solid mulberry-like structure. The morula undergoes further division to form blastula,
gastrula, ciliated gastrula (cilia present for movement and locomotion), larva and
ultimately the division leads to the formation of the free swimming larval stages.
Have you seen a sea cucumber puke out its gut?
The sea cucumbers possess a unique feature that helps as a defensive mechanism.
The sea cucumbers can puke or evert out its internal organs from the anus and the
internal organs can be regenerated. Thus, they can run out by the use of this
mechanism and this protects them from the dangerous conditions and predators.
Question- Echinoderms-
Options- a. Are radially symmetrical, b. Have an internal skeleton called an
endoskeleton, c. Are exclusively marine, d. All of the above.
Answer: Option (d) All of the above.
Explanation- Echinoderms are exclusively marine organisms, bottom dwellers, feed on
debris, mouth is ventral in position and anus is dorsal in position. They consist of a
water vascular system, coelomate animals, triploblastic animals, radially symmetrical
adults and the larva is bilaterally symmetrical. They possess both exoskeleton and
endoskeleton. They possess a good power of regeneration.
Echinoderms are not the last phyla of Non-chordates anymore! Now, another
phylum- Hemichordata is added in the Non-chordates. Before the phylum-
Hemichordata was kept as a sub group in Chordates (Protochordates). The
hemichordates were placed along with Urochordates and Cephalochordates in
the Protochordates but later on it was realised that the phylum- Hemichoradtes
should be placed with Non-chordates. Phylum Hemichoradta moved out of
Chordates!

Phylum- Hemichordata:
This is the last phylum of non-Chordata. ‘Hemi’ means half, so these are referred to as
half chordates. Hemichordate means half chordates.
They possess a stomochord which resembles a notochord. Stomochord is a tube-like,
flexible structure found in hemichordates and it arises from the roof of the embryonic
gut.
They possess the pharyngeal gill slits (the pharynx is perforated and consists of slits);
the rest features are similar to the non-chordates. Hemichordates form a very small
phyla that possess headless worms. Hemichordates are triploblastic and exclusively
marine animals.
The important features of Chordates include- Central hollow dorsal nervous system,
notochord and pharyngeal gill slits. Notochord is a stiff rod like structure that provides
structural support to the body and is derived from the mesoderm. The notochord forms
the characteristic feature of the phylum- Chordates.
Some Important Members:
Balanoglossus (tongue worm or ox tongue), Saccoglossus, etc.
Balanoglossus is called tongue worm or ox tongue as it resembles the structure of the
tongue of an ox.
Habitat:
Hemichordates are headless worms and are exclusively marine.
Larva: Hemichordates show indirect development and larva forms are present.
Symmetry, Germ Layer & Body Cavity:
Hemichordates are marine organisms, bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, coelomate
(coelom present) and have an organ- system level of organization.
Body Structure:
The body of Hemichordates is cylindrical and is divided into a proboscis, collar and a
long trunk. The circulatory system of hemichordates is an open circulatory system. The
proboscis gland acts as an excretory organ. They are dioecious and have separate
sexes. They exhibit external fertilization and show indirect development.
The proboscis gland is formed of a proboscis, proboscis stalk and proboscis skeleton.
The body of the Hemichordates consist of the following parts- Proboscis, Protocoel,
Mouth, Heart, Mesocoel, Collar, Gill slits, Ventral blood vessel, Ventral nerve cord,
hepatic sacs, dorsal blood vessel, gut, Anus and dorsal nerve cord.
Crustaceans consist of green glands as excretory organs. Malpighian tubules are the
excretory structures in insects.
Question- Proboscis gland is an excretory organ in-
Options- a. Dentalium, b. Echinus, c. Cucumaria, d. Saccoglossus.
Answer- Option (d) Saccoglossus.
Explanation- The Dentalium is a member of the phylum- Mollusca, Echinus and
Cucumaria are the members of the phylum- Echinodermata while Saccoglossus is a
member of the phylum- Hemichordata which consists of the proboscis gland as an
excretory structure. The Saccoglossus is a relative member of the Balanoglossus.
Comparative study of all the Non-chordate phyla:
Phylum- Porifera:
The phylum Porifera exhibits the following characteristics- cellular level of organisation;
many types of symmetry; coelom is absent; segmentation of the body is absent;
digestive, respiratory and circulatory system absent. The distinctive feature of the
phylum- Porifera is the body with pores and canal in the walls.
Phylum- Coelenterata or Cnidaria:
The phylum Coelenterata exhibits the following characteristics- tissue level of
organisation; radial symmetry; coelom is absent; body segmentation is absent;
incomplete digestive system; circulatory system absent; respiratory system absent. The
distinctive feature of the phylum- Coelenterata is the presence of the specialised cells
called cnidoblasts.
Phylum- Ctenophora:
The phylum Ctenophora exhibits the following characteristics- tissue level of
organisation; radial symmetry; coelom absent; body segmentation absent; presence of
complete digestive system; circulatory system absent; respiratory system absent. The
distinctive feature of the phylum- Ctenophora is the presence of comb plates for
locomotion.
Phylum- Platyhelminthes:
The phylum Platyhelminthes exhibits the following characteristics- organ level of body
organisation; bilateral symmetry; coelom absent; body segmentation absent; incomplete
digestive system; circulatory system absent; respiratory system absent. The distinctive
feature of the phylum- Platyhelminthes is the presence of the flat body and suckers.
Phylum- Aschelminthes:
The phylum Aschelminthes exhibits the following characteristics- Organ system level of
body organisation; bilateral symmetry; Pseudocoelomate animals; body segmentation
absent; complete digestive system; circulatory system absent; respiratory system
absent. The distinctive feature of the phylum- Aschelminthes is the presence of a worm
shaped and elongated body.
Phylum- Annelida:
The phylum Annelida exhibits the following characteristics- Organ system level of body
organisation; bilateral symmetry; coelomate animals (coelom present); body
segmentation present; complete digestive system; circulatory system present;
respiratory system present. The distinctive feature of the phylum- Annelida is the
presence of the body segmentation which looks like rings.
Phylum- Arthropoda:
The phylum Arthropoda exhibits the following characteristics- Organ system level of
body organisation; bilateral symmetry; coelomate animals (coelom present); body
segmentation present; complete digestive system; circulatory system present;
respiratory system present. The distinctive feature of the phylum- Arthropoda is the
presence of an exoskeleton made up of cuticle and the presence of the jointed
appendages.
Phylum- Mollusca:
The phylum Mollusca exhibits the following characteristics- Organ system level of body
organisation; bilateral symmetry; coelomate animals (coelom present); body
segmentation absent; complete digestive system; circulatory system present;
respiratory system present. The distinctive feature of the phylum- Mollusca is the
presence of the external skeleton made up of shell and the shell is usually present in
the members of this phylum. Exception- Octopus.
Phylum- Echinodermata:
The phylum Echinodermata exhibits the following characteristics- Organ system level of
body organisation; bilateral symmetry; coelomate animals (coelom present); body
segmentation absent; complete digestive system; circulatory system present;
respiratory system present. The distinctive feature of the phylum- Echinodermata is the
presence of a water vascular system and radial symmetry.
Phylum- Hemichordata:
The phylum Hemichordata exhibits the following characteristics- Organ system level of
body organisation; bilateral symmetry; coelomate animals (coelom present); body
segmentation absent; complete digestive system; circulatory system present;
respiratory system present. The distinctive feature of the phylum- Hemichordata is the
presence of a worm-like body which is divided into a proboscis, collar and trunk.