The deuterostomes (literally,“second-mouth”) were initially grouped together because they appeared to undergo early embryonic development in a similar way
Two important themes include:
Evolution is not a linear progression from simple to complex
Ecological context is important for evolution
Echinoderms are deuterostomes that share several synapomorphies-traits that identify them as a monophyletic group: radial symmetry in adults, an endoskeleton of calcium carbonate, and the water vascular system.
Endoskeleton is a hard structure located just inside a thin layer of epidermal tissue, or skin, that protects and supports the body
Echinoderms have a unique series of branching, fluid-filled tubes and chambers called the water vascular system.
Tube feet are elongated, fluid-filled appendages, each consisting of a balloon like ampulla inside the body and a tube-like podium projecting on the outside
Chordates are deuterostomes characterized by the presence of four key morphological features at some stage in their life cycles:
pharyngeal slits or pouches, which are openings into the throat or pouches in the throat
a dorsal hollow nerve cord, which runs the length of the body
a notochord, a stiff and supportive but flexible rod that runs the length of the body
a muscular, post-anal tail, meaning a tail that contains muscle and extends past the anus.
Cephalochordates are also called lancelets, or amphioxus; they are small, mobile, torpedo-shaped animals with a “fishlike” appearance, and they make their living by suspension feeding
Urochordates are also called tunicates.
Cartilage is a strong but flexible tissue that consists of scattered cells in a gel-like matrix of polysaccharides and protein fibers
Bone is a dense tissue consisting of cells and blood vessels encased in a matrix made primarily of calcium phosphate, along with a small amount of protein fibers.
In early vertebrates, the brain was divided into three regions with important sensory functions:
The fore brain housed the sense of smell
the midbrain was associated with vision
the hindbrain was responsible for balance and, in some species, hearing
Part of the forebrain also evolved into a large and elaborate structure called the cerebrum, especially in birds and mammals.
Three important themes about vertebrate evolution are:
Most vertebrates are extinct
Some traits evolved more than once
Traits are sometimes lost
The jawed vertebrates, or gnathostomes are a monophyletic group including five major living lineages: the cartilaginous fishes, ray-finned fishes, coelacanths, lungfishes, and tetrapods.
Several species-rich lineages of ray-finned fishes have a second specialized jaw called a pharyngeal (“throat”) jaw, consisting of modified gill arches.
The origin of the jaw was a major evolutionary innovation, leading to a dramatic radiation of fishes during the Devonian period and the subsequent origin of tetrapods
The first tetrapods to live on land were amphibians
In contrast, oviparous reptiles (including birds) and the few oviparous mammals produce an amniotic egg, which has a protective covering that reduces the rate of drying significantly.
Mammals are a monophyletic group of amniotes named for unique structures, called mammary glands, that produce milk.
The milk nourishes developing young, by a process called lactation.
Mammals are endotherms (“inside-heated”) that maintain high body temperatures by oxidizing large amounts of food and generating large amounts of heat.
The mammalian placenta is an organ combining maternal and embryonic tissues
After a development period called gestation, the offspring emerges from the mother body.
The reptiles are a monophyletic group that represents 1e second major ng lineage of amniotes beside mammals.
The mammalian lineage known as primates traditionally consists of two main groups: prosimians and anthropoids.
The prosimians (“before-monkeys”) typically consist of the lemurs, found in Madagascar, and the lorises, pottos, and tarsiers of Africa and south Asia.
The Anthropoidea, or anthropoids (“human-like”), include the New World monkeys found in Central and South America, the Old World monkeys that live in Africa and tropical regions of Asia, and the Hominidae, or great apes-orangutans, gorillas, humans, bonobos, and chimpanzees
The hominins are a monophyletic group comprising Homo sαpiens and more than 20 extinct, bipedal relatives.