Animal Evolution & Diversity

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to animal evolution and diversity from the lecture notes.

Animal Body Plans

Wide range of anatomical and physiological variations allowing for diversification.

Chemoheterotrophs

Organisms that obtain food by ingesting other organic substances.

Multicellular

Organisms consisting of more than one cell.

Bilateral Symmetry

Body plan where the left and right sides are mirror images.

Radial Symmetry

Body plan where body parts are arranged around a central axis.

Segmentation

The organization of the body into repeated units along the anterior-posterior axis.

Cephalization

Concentration of nervous system and sensory organs in the head region.

Diploblastic

Organisms with two embryonic tissue layers: ectoderm and endoderm.

Triploblastic

Organisms with three embryonic tissue layers: ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm.

Nematocyst

Stinging cell found in cnidarians used for capturing prey.

Ecdysozoa

Group of animals characterized by molting their exoskeleton.

Lophotrochozoa

Group of protostome animals that include annelids and mollusks.

Amniotic Egg

Type of egg that allows for development in a terrestrial environment.

Bipedalism

Ability to walk on two legs, a key characteristic of humans.

Vertebrates

Animals with a backbone, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

Monotremes

Egg-laying mammals like the platypus and echidna.

Marsupials

Mammals that give birth to underdeveloped young which then continue to develop in a pouch.

Placental Mammals

Mammals that nourish their unborn young through a placenta.

Cnidarians

Aquatic animals, including jellyfish and corals, characterized by radial symmetry and two tissue layers.

Phylum

A category in the biological classification system that ranks above class and below kingdom.