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Animals: General Characteristics of Animals

This document provides an overview of the general characteristics of animals and describes the major animal phyla. It discusses the distinguishing features of sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, roundworms, segmented worms, arthropods, molluscs, echinoderms, chordates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. For each group, it outlines key characteristics like body structure, symmetry, digestive system, reproduction methods, and examples of common species.

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215 views4 pages

Animals: General Characteristics of Animals

This document provides an overview of the general characteristics of animals and describes the major animal phyla. It discusses the distinguishing features of sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, roundworms, segmented worms, arthropods, molluscs, echinoderms, chordates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. For each group, it outlines key characteristics like body structure, symmetry, digestive system, reproduction methods, and examples of common species.

Uploaded by

Aimhee
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Animals

General Characteristics of Animals


=multi-celled, hetertrophic, eukaryotes =require oxygen for aerobic respiration =reproduce sexually, some asexually =motile at some stage =invertebrates vs vertebrates

a.)
=first animal to exhibit multicellularity =cell aggregates =do not formtrue tissues =assymetrical

Phylum Poriferans (Sponges)


=mostly marines =asexual and sexual reproduction =exhibit alloincompatibility

b.)
=first animal to have true tissues =radially symmetrical

Phylum Cnidaria
=two body plans: polyp and medusa =with nerve nets

=produces cnidae: gives them the ability to sting

c.)
=dorsoventally flattened =first tripoblasic animal =bilateral symmetry =protostomic

Phylum Platyhelminthes: Flatworm


=free living; parasitic =hermaphroditic =produces sexually and asexually

d.)
=body is round =pseudoceolomate

Phylum Nematodes (Roundworms)


=complete digestive system =free living; parasitic

e.)
=coelomate =3 classes : 1.

Phylum Annelida (Segmented Worms)

Polychaeta = bristles extend from paired, fleshy parapods on each segment

2.

Oligochaeta = no parapodia, few britles for each segment; with clitellum

3. Hirudinea (Leeches) = predatordand parasites; less obvious body segmentation; most have sharp jaws

f.)
=coelomate organisms =hardened exoskeleton =jointed appendages =fused and modified segments 1. Trilobites

Phylum Anthropoda
=specialized sensory structures =division of labor =has the greatest number of species; with 4 number of lineages

2. Chelicerates

3. Crustaceans

4.Uniramians

g.)
=coelomate organisms =bilateral symmetrical =unsegmented

Phylum Molluscs
=have mantle with cavity (modified into gills or lungs) =secretes shell

5 Classes of Phylum Molluscs 1. 2. Class Bivalvia Class Scapophoda 3. 4. Cephalopoda Polycophora 5. Gastropods

h.)
=deutorosomes =adults are radial

Phylum Echinodermata
=body wall has spines or plates =no brain

Examples: Sea Urchins, See Stars, Brittle Stars, Sea Cucumber, Sea Lilies, Feather Stars

i.)
=deutorosome =bilateral symmetry

Phylum Chordates
=presence of notochord, pharyngeal slits, endostyle, dorsal hollow nerve cord, post anal tail

FISHES

Characteristics of Fishes
=has gills for breathing =ectothermic =possess fins =skin with scales (mesodermal) =skeleton may be bony or cartilagenous =dioecious

Class Amphibia
=four limbs =smooth moist skin with glands and chromatopores =by lungs, skin or gills =ectothermic =3 chambered-heart =dioecious

Class Reptilia
=have dry scaly skin =ectothermic =with lungs =dioecious =temperature determines sex

Class Aves (Birds)


=body covered with feathers =legs with scale =no sweat gland but with oil / preen gland at the base of the tail =jaw covered with a horn sheath beak, no teeth =evolve for fight =ossified bones with air cavities =4-chamber heart =endothermic =separate sexes

Class Mamalia
=body covered with hair (some reduced) =sweat, sebaceous mammary glands =4 chamber heart =non nucleated RBCs =endothermic

1.
=w/ hair =suckle their young =lack nipples

Monotremes
=lack external ears =embryo developed in shelled eggs

2.
=born at an early stage, pull themselves at the mothers pouch

Marsupials
=suckle young =males dont have pouch

3.

Eutherian

=young are provided with nutrition through placenta

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