Marine Bio - Animal Classifications

Important Phylum and Class Names + Important Terms for Classifying Animals

Porifera

Sponges (Phylum)

Echinoderms

“spiny skin”, sea stars, urchins, brittle stars, etc (Phylum)

Angiophyta/Magnoliophyta

flowering plants

Seagrasses

mangroves, vines, palm trees, etc

Cnidarians

Jellyfish, hydroids, and coral (Phylum)

Hydrozoa

Hydroids (class of Cnidarians)

Scyphozoa

Jellyfish (class of Cnidarians)

Anthozoa

Corals (class of Cnidarians)

Cubozoa

Box Jellyfish (class of Cnidarians)

Ctenophores

Comb jellies (Phylum)

Plathelminthes

Flatworms (Phylum)

Turbellaria

Free-living flatworms (not always parasitic)(Class of Plathelminthes)

Cestoda

tapeworms (Class of Plathelminthes)

Tremutodo

Flukes (Class of Plathelminthes)

Annelida

Segmented Worms (Phylum)

Polychaeta

Bristled worms (Class of Annelida)

Oligochaeta

few bristles, look like earthworms (Class of Annelida)

Hirudinoidea

Leeches (Class of Annelida)

Mollusca

Mollusks (Phylum)

Gastropods

“Stomach-head“; Snails, Nudibranchs, Sea Butterflies, etc (Class of Mollusca)

Bivalves

“2 Shells” Clams, Oysters, Scallops, Shipworms, etc (Class of Mollusca)

Polyplacophors

Chitons (Class of Mollusca)

Cephalopods

“Head-Foot”; Octopus, Squid, Cuttlefish, Nautiloids, etc. (Class of Mollusca)

Bryozoa

Moss Animals (Lophophorate Group)

Brachiopoda

Lamp Shells (Lophophorate Group)

Arthropods

Crabs, lobsters, shrimp, centipedes, etc (Phylum)

Chelicerata

Horseshoe Crabs, Sea Spiders, etc (Class of Arthropods)

Uniramia

Insects, millipedes, centipedes (mostly terrestrial)(Class of Arthropods)

Crustacae

Barnacles, copepods, amphipods, crabs, lobsters, etc (Class of Arthropods)

Radula

A mollusk’s “tongue”

Mantle

Extra flap of skin on a mollusk that protects important openings

Coelom

Fluid-filled cavity in Annelida and further that protects the internal organs

Nematocysts

Harpoon-like stingers that Cnidarians have for hunting/defense

Echinoidea

Sea Urchins

Holothuroidea

Sea Cucumbers

Asteroidea

Starfish

Ophiuroidea

Brittle Stars

Crinoidea

Sea Lilies

Chordata

Organisms with a dorsal nerve chord and a notochord (Phylum)

Ascidians

Sea Squirts (Subphylum of Chordata)

Thaliacea

Salps (Subphylum of Chordata)

Vertebrata

All animals with backbones, gills, and a central nervous system (Subphylum of Chordata)

Osteichthyes

Bony Fish (Class of Chordata)

Chondrichthyes

Cartilaginous fish (Class of Chordata)

Reptilia

Snakes, turtles, lizards, etc (Class of Chordata)

Aves

Birds (Class of Chordata)

Mammalia

Dolphins, otters, manatees, etc (Class of Chordata)

Pinnipedia

Seals, walruses, sea lions (Order of Mammalia)

Carnivora

Sea otters, polar bears (Order of Mammalia)

Sirenia

Manatees, dougongs (Order of Mammalia)

Cetacea

Dolphins, whales, and porpoises (Order of Mammalia)