Study Notes for Unit 2: Animals

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on animal diversity and evolution.

Deuterostomes

A group of animals in which the blastopore develops into the anus.

Protostomes

A group of animals in which the blastopore develops into the mouth.

Synapomorphies

Shared derived characteristics that define a group of organisms.

Echinoderms

A phylum of marine animals characterized by radial symmetry and a water vascular system.

Chordates

Animals with a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, and pharyngeal slits at some stage in their life.

Hemichordates

Marine animals sharing characteristics with echinoderms and chordates, including acorn worms.

Amniote Egg

An egg that contains extraembryonic membranes and allows for reproduction on land.

Homeothermy

The ability to maintain a stable internal body temperature regardless of external influence.

Neoteny

The retention of juvenile features in the adult organism.

Vertebrates

Animals with a backbone or spinal column.

Pharyngeal Slits

Openings that appear in the pharyngeal region, characteristic of all chordates.

Lancelets

Small, fish-like marine animals that retain all the chordate characteristics throughout their life.

Amphibians

A class of animals that includes frogs, toads, and salamanders, typically requiring water for reproduction.

Chondrichthyans

Cartilaginous fishes, including sharks and rays.

Amniotes

A clade that includes reptiles, birds, and mammals, characterized by the amniote egg.

Tetrapods

Four-limbed vertebrates that include amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Fins

Appendages used for locomotion in aquatic animals, which can evolve into limbs in terrestrial animals.