Vertebrates and Invertebrates

Porifera

SPONGES (think pores)

Invertebrate

• body symmetry: asymmetrical (grow irregular)

• sedentary filter feeders

• no true tissues or organs

• specialized cells: choanocytes- key functional units of sponge

Cnidera

JELLIES (think about how you can see their nerves)

Invertebrate

• body symmetry: radial

• suspension feeders / carnivores (incomplete gut)

• specialized cells: cnidocytes- stringing cell

• Two body forms: polyp and medusa

Platyhelminthes

FLATWORMS (think plat like flat)

Invertebrate

• body symmetry: bilateral

• incomplete gut, simple internal organization

• free-living: mostly aquatic grazers

• endoparasites: tapeworms and flukes

Mollusca

SNAILS, CLAMS, SQUID (mollusk)

Invertebrate

• soft bodied + shells (though not all have shells)

• body symmetry: bilateral

• mostly aquatic; wide range of nutritional modes

• complete gut, circulatory, nervous, etc.

Annelide

SEGMENTED WORMS (think about nnnnnn)

Invertebrate

• soft bodied, no limbs, segmented

• body symmetry: bilateral

• mostly aquatic; wide range of nutritional modes including ectoparasites

• complete gut, circulatory, nervous, etc.

Nematoda

ROUND WORMS (think nematOde for round)

Invertebrate

• worm-shaped, smooth with cuticle (ecdysozoans)

• body symmetry: bilateral

• internal complexity reduced

• free-living in all soil and water

• endoparasites with complex lifecycles

Arthropoda

Invertebrate

• largest group

• every type of nutritional mode

• body symmetry: bilateral

• segmented body with exoskeleton

• Insects: wings!

• Lifecycles often involving molting and larval stages

• full complexity of internal organization, nervous and sensory systems

Echinodermata

SEA STARS, URCHINS (think of under the sea. long word sea stars have lots of legs)

Invertebrate

• Wide variety of shapes and activity

• body symmetry: radial

• Marine predators and grazers

• Tube feet with water vascular system

• Reduced nervous system (ring nerve)

Mammalia

Mammals with fur or hair that give live birth and usually produce milk for their young.

Reptilia

Reptilewith scales that lay eggs, often cold-blooded and includes snakes, lizards, and turtles.

Aves

Birdsclass of warm-blooded vertebrates characterized by feathers, beaks, and the ability to lay hard-shelled eggs.

Amphibia

Class of cold-blooded vertebrates that typically live both in water and on land; undergo metamorphosis from larva to adult, characterized by moist skin and the ability to breathe through lungs and skin.

Mixini

HAGFISH

• Skull with no jaws; cartilaginous skeleton; no vertebrae

• Marine benthic scavenger; rasping mouth

• Eyeless, simple vert nervous system

• Not a large or diverse group

• Interesting fact: slime glands!

Petromizontida

LAMPREY

Vertebrate

• Skull with no jaws; cartilaginous skeleton w/vertebrae

• Adult: ectoparasite with spiny suction mouth

• Gill holes

• Eyes + simple vert nervous system

• Not a large or diverse group

• from fliter feeder to parasite life cycle

Chondrichthyes

CARTILAGINUS FISHES (sharks, stingrays)

Vertebrate

• Jaws; cartilaginous skeleton w/vertebrae

• Gill slits; fixed dorsal fin

• Large and diverse group

• Active predators

• Well-developed senses and brain

• Interesting fact: electroreception!

Actinopteriygii

RAY-FINNED FISHES (is the 1st letter in the alphabet which is 1 fin)

• Very large and diverse group; all nutritional modes

• Jaws; bony skeleton w/vertebrae

• Flexible “ray” fins

• Swim bladder + movable gill covering

• Well-developed senses and brain

• Interesting fact: sex change in reef fishes

Sarcopterygii

LOBE FINNED FISHES (s is not the first letter int he alphabet so it has multiple fins

• Small group

• Coelacanth: thought to be extinct

• Lungfishes: modified swim bladder

• Jaws; bony skeleton w/vertebrae

• Unique “lobe” fins

• Interesting fact: tetrapod cousin