Marine Biology and Classification

Marine Animals invertebrates and vertebrates

Porifera

Sponges

Sessile animals and are also asymmetrical, they are made up of cells BUT NOT tissues

Cnidaria

Jellies, Corals, & Anemones

Radially symmetrical and have tentacles that contain nematocysts (poison harpoons), also has a digestive cavity with one opening (feces and food go through same hole)

Platyhelminthes

Flat Worms

Contain body organs and a simple digestive/nervous system, and are also bilaterally symmetrical.

Nematoda

Round Worms

Usually parasites that have unsegmented bodies (tapered worms), they also move by coiling and uncoiling their body

Annelida

Segmented Worms

Segmented body wall, has surface scales or bristles and can be bothh sessile and motile species

Echinodermata

Sea Stars & Sea Urchins

5 point radial symmetry, contains a calcareous (CaCO3) exoskeleton, has tube-feet which is operated by fluid pressure (hydrostatic skeleton)

Anthropoda

Crustaceans- lobster, crab, shrimp

Joint apendages, has a hard exoskeleton made of chitin, bilateral symmetry

Mollusca

Snails, Squids, Clams

Open circulating system, animal covered with a shell of 1,2, or 8 pieces. Can be without an external shell & tentacles but with a muscular foot

Chordata

Mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, sharks

Animal body, bilateral symmetry, Animals with a notochord often becoming a vertebrate, most chordates have a backbone and skull

Anatomical Directions

Dorsal, Ventral, Anterior, Posterior