Deuterostomes: Echinoderms and Chordates

Deuterostomes: Echinoderms and Introduction to Chordates

Overview of Deuterostomes

  • Deuterostomes are a major group of animals.
  • Includes Echinoderms and Chordates.
  • Bilateria: Characterized by Bilateral symmetry.
  • Eumetazoa have tissues.
  • Position of Deuterostomes in the animal phylogeny: Sponges, Cnidarians, Flatworms, Molluscs, Annelids (Lophotrochozoa), Nematodes, Arthropods (Ecdysozoa), Echinoderms, and Chordates.
  • Approximate evolutionary timeline:
    • 770 mya
    • 680 mya
    • 670 mya

Embryological Development: Protostomes vs. Deuterostomes

  • Gut formation pattern differentiates animal categories.
  • Protostome development: the mouth develops first.
  • Deuterostome development: the anus develops first.
  • Key features:
    • Mesoderm
    • Future mouth, digestive tract, and anus development
    • Spiral cleavage in protostomes
    • Radial cleavage in deuterostomes.

Phylogeny of Deuterostomes

  • Includes:
    • Xenoturbellida
    • Echinodermata (Echinoderms)
      • Crinoidea
      • Asteroidea
      • Ophiuroidea
      • Holothuroidea
      • Echinoidea
    • Hemichordata (Hemichordates)
      • Pterobranchia
      • Harrimaniidae
      • Ptychoderidae
    • Chordata (Chordates)
      • Tunicata
        • Phlebobranchia
        • Thaliacea
        • Aplousobranchia
        • Appendicularia
        • Stolidobranchia
        • Molgulidae
      • Vertebrata

Major Deuterostome Groups

  • Echinodermata: Approximately 7,000 species.
    • Example: Sea urchin.
  • Hemichordata: Approximately 85 species.
    • Example: Acorn worm.
  • Chordata: Approximately 60,000 species.
    • Example: Tunicate.

Echinoderms

  • Characterized by spiny skin.
  • All marine species.
  • Slow-moving or sessile organisms.
  • Thin epidermis covering calcareous plates.
  • Use a hydrovascular system for movement via tube feet.
  • Echinoderms are Deuterostomes!

General Echinoderm Anatomy

  • Key features:
    • Central disk
    • Digestive tract (stomach, anus, digestive glands)
    • Ring canal
    • Gonads
    • Ampulla
    • Podium (tube feet)
    • Radial canal
    • Spine
    • Gills
    • Madreporite
    • Radial nerve

Major Classes of Echinoderms

  • Asteroida: Sea stars.
  • Ophioroida: Brittle stars.
  • Echinoida: Sea urchins.
  • Crinoida: Sea Lilies/feather stars.
  • Holothuroida: Sea Cucumbers.

Echinoderm Life Processes

  • Gas exchange
  • Nutrient acquisition
  • Material distribution
  • Osmotic stress management
  • Waste expulsion
  • Reproduction

Hemichordates

  • Body plan:
    • Prosome/proboscis
    • Mesosome/collar
    • Metasome
  • Features:
    • Mouth
    • Prebranchial nerve ring
    • Dorsal nerve cord
    • Gill slits
    • Pharynx/gut
    • Ventral nerve cord
    • Anus
    • Apical organ
    • Protocoel, mesocoel, and metacoel
    • Stomochord
    • Dorsal cord
    • Ciliated band
    • Ventral, post-anal tail

Chordates

  • Key characteristics:
    • Notochord
    • Dorsal, hollow nerve cord
    • Post-anal tail
    • Pharyngeal slits or clefts
    • Muscle segments

Chordate Evolution

  • Evolved during the Cambrian explosion, approximately 530 million years ago.
  • Bilaterian deuterostomes with about 65,000 extant species, including approximately 57,000 vertebrates.
  • Examples of early chordates: Myllokunmingia, Haikouella, and Tully monster.

Chordate Phylogeny

  • ANCESTRAL DEUTEROSTOME
    • Notochord.
    • Common ancestor of chordates
    • Echinodermata
  • Chordates
    • Urochordata
    • Cephalochordata
    • Myxini
    • Petromyzontida
  • Vertebrates
    • Vertebrae
    • Cyclostomes
  • Gnathostomes
    • Jaws, mineralized skeleton
    • Chondrichthyes
  • Osteichthyans
    • Lungs or lung derivatives
    • Actinopterygii
  • Lobe-fins
    • Lobed fins
    • Actinistia
    • Dipnoi
  • Tetrapods
    • Limbs with digits
    • Amphibia
  • Amniotes
    • Amniotic egg
    • Reptilia
  • Mammalia
    • Milk

Urochordates: Tunicates

  • Key features:
    • Notochord
    • Dorsal, hollow nerve cord
    • Tail
    • Muscle segments
    • Incurrent and excurrent siphons
    • Pharynx with numerous slits
    • Intestine, anus, stomach, esophagus, and atrium
  • Larval form has chordate characteristics which are lost during the metamorphic transition to the adult form.

Vertebrates

  • Chordates and vertebrates are not the same things.