I.

INTRODUCTION

a. Background

The diversity of living things can be found on this earth. Plants, animals,
microscopic creatures, humans even abiotic factors are contributed to the biodiversity of
earth. Biodiversity defines as the abundance and species richness of plant and animals in
particular habitat on in the world as a whole (Huh, 2016). The amount of living things
are vary in numbers, because of that they need to be grouped into several categories, can
be based on morphological characters, shapes, life cycles, habitat or even their
reproductive system (Waluyo, 2010).
Taxonomy is a mechanism used to classify all of living organisms based on
certain characteristics. Similar or dissimilar characteristics will become the factors to
group organisms into their right category (Verma, 2016). The field of knowledge,
taxonomy is a tool used to classify plants and animals in a systematical and logical order
(Bastable, 2002). While systematics is defined as a scientific study deals with
identification, naming and classification of organisms according to the relation that
connects between them. During its development, taxonomy and systematics are
commonly known to have equivalent meaning. Although they are actually different,
taxonomy only discuss a species in their taxa classification, meanwhile for systematics
widely discuss not only about their taxa classification, but also the characters of the
species such as habitat, morphology, physiology and others (Verma, 2016). Neverthless
of their different meanings, studying taxonomy and systematics cannot be separated.
Classifying a species needs the existence of taxonomical characters. The purpose of
classification itself is to simplify the identification of types in living creatures, it is
based on the similarities and differences of certain characters in animals or plants
(Wahid, 2012).
Since 1753, polynomial system was replaced with binomial system after
publication of “Systema Plantarum” by Carolus Linnaeus and later being applied
internationally. This binomial system names living creatures using two words only, the
first word shows the genus and second word shows the species type of animal. The
classification system, is the term of taxon level is called a category. Species are the basic
categories of taxonomic hierarchies, because species are the basic stones in biological
classification, and from that species higher class concepts are developed. According to
Arijani (2000), categories are taxonomic hierarchies or levels from the highest to the
lowest. The hierarchy of taxonomy includes seven obligate categories–kingdom,
division or phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. The categories are arranged
in descending sequence keeping the kingdom at the top.
The lowest rank, is species. Species is a natural population of individuals or
group of population which resemble one another in all essential morphological and also
reproductive characters so they are able to interbreed freely and produce fertile
offspring. The example is the species of Mango is indica, while the genus name is
mangifera. Therefore the species name for Mango is Mangifera indica. The second
lowest rank, is genus, a group of related species which resemble one another in certain
correlated characters (similar or common features). All the species of genus are
presumed to have evolved from a common ancestor. The third lowest rank is family, it is
a taxonomic category which contains one more related genera. All the genera of a
family have some common features or characters. Thus the genera of cats (Felis) and
leopard (panther) are included in the family Felidae (Rieppel, 2016).
Order, is the category that includes one or more related families. The family of
Felidae and Canidae are included under order carnivore along with Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
and Ursidae (bears). More related orders will later made class. The example is a class of
Mammalia includes all mammals which range from bats, kangaroos, rodents and
whales. Next is the division or phylum, it is a category higher than class. The term
phylum is used for animals while division is commonly employed for plants. The
phylum chordate of animals contains not only mammalian class but also aves (birds),
reptilian (reptiles) and others. Lastly, the kingdom is the highest taxonomic category. All
animals are belonged to kingdom animalia. There are some extra categories like sub
order, sub family, but they are not regularly used (Rieppel, 2016).

B. Objectives

The objective of this laboratory activity are:

1. Students learn the definition and some examples of taxonomic characters in
invertebrate.
2. Students learn morphological characters of several invertebrates.
 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Taxonomic character is a unique attribute used for identify a taxon and

differentiate it with other taxa. These attributes are functioned as the principal of living
creature classification into certain taxa. Characters can be colors, shapes and structures
of specific organ from a taxon (Wahid, 2012).
Invertebrate animals are spineless animals, in other they lack of back bone to
support their posture. Invertebrates have morphological and anatomical structures such
as the digestive system, breathing and circulatory system, which are simpler than those
vertebrate animals. They have small dimensions, and nervous systems that are in
accordance with their simple needs (Djarubito, 1989). Invertebrate animals are the most
abundant species that present on earth, so that in order to study about them, it requires
classification of the types of invertebrate animals. Classification also supports
knowledge about kinship of these animals with one another, so that the relation can be
seen. Organizing a number of species into understandable groups is called the
taxonomic hierarchy. Taxonomy is an important discovery in grouping animal species
based on hierarchy and naming (nomenclature) (Campbell, 2000).
Invertebrates are all species except vertebrates (pisces, reptiles, amphibian, aves
and mammals). Invertebrates consists of eight phyla, which are porifera, coelenterate,
platyhelminthes, nemathelminthes, annelids, echinoderm, mollusca and arthropods
(Borror, 1992). Porifera is also called porous animal. Porifera is the simplest
multicellular animal, has no head or other limbs like animals. Many people mistakenly
identify the porifera as a sea plants because of its shape that resembles a plant. The body
of porifera is connected by channels that open at the end and form pores. Porifera are
sessile animals, because they live by attaching their body to a substrate that is usually on
the sea floor or seabed and they can reproduce vegetative or generatively. (Campbell et
al., 2005).
Coelenterata is a diploblastic animal, with radial symmetry body and most of
them live in the sea or freshwater. Their body are surrounded by pseudo arms called
tentacles and in these tentacles there are nematocyst (poison to paralyze prey).
Coelenterate is also called cnidaria because they have stinging cells, also has
characteristic that is as an organism which throughout its life experiences two life forms
(dimorphic), namely polyps (when attached to the bottom of the sea) and medusa (a
living form that moves freely in the sea). The examples are jellyfish, corals, hydra and
sea anemone (Campbell et al., 2005)
Platyhelminthes or flat worms, is a phylum of worms with dorsoventrally
flattened body. They exhibit bilateral symmetry, also triploblastic three germ layers.
They do not have a body cavity and are acoelomate. Their body are soft and
unsegmented. Platyhelminthes are mostly parasitic with a few free-living. The living
place of this worm is at sea, rivers and lakes or parasites in the body of other organisms.
They have a suction tool equipped with a hook to attach themselves to the host's body.
For example is Fasciola sp. (liver worms) lives in sheep and cattle hearts (Campbell et
al., 2000).
Nemathelminthes are also called gilig worms because their bodies are round like
threads. They are generally microscopic in size even though some are up to 1 meter
long. The body of these organisms is unsegmented and triploblastic. They have a
pseudocoeloem, where the body cavity is not lined by the mesodermal layer. The body
is cylindrical or thread like with elongated, slender worm-like appearance and tapering
at both ends. (Clifford, 1975). Nemathelminthes can be free-living or parasitic in
humans, animals and plants. Free-living Nemathelminthes act as decomposers of
organic waste, while as parasites they obtain food from the host's body (Suhardi, 1983).
Annelid is an invertebrate that has a perfect coelom (body cavity). They have
mouths in the first segment and anus in the last segment. The digestive tract consists of
the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines and anus. Annelida has a collection
of nerves at the anterior end of the body that are used as center of body coordination
Examples are earthworms, and leeches (Campbell et al., 2000).
Mollusca are soft-bodied animals, most of which are protected by hard shells
containing calcium carbonate. Mollusca is a triploblastic coelom animal with symmetry
bilateral. Slug, squid and octopus have reduced shells. Mollusca body has three main
parts: muscular legs, generally used for movement; visceral mass, containing internal
organs; and the mantle, a tissue fold that covers the visceral mass and secretes the shell.
Mollusca has digestive, respiratory, excretory and reproductive system that are complex
(Brotowidjoyo, 1989).
Arthropods are invertebrate animals with segmented bodies, segmented
movement tools, and the body is completely covered by cuticle. The cuticle is an
exoskeleton built from layers of protein and chitin. Segment groups and members of the
body have been specialized for a variety of functions. Such as for moving, feeding,
sensory organs, copulation or defense. They adapt well to their environment in the
presence of sensory organs including the eyes, olfactory receptors for smell and
antennas for touch and smell. Arthropods consists of 4 classes namely Crustacea,
Arachnoidea, Myriapoda and Insecta (Jutje, 2006).
Echinoderm is an animal that has prickly skin, hard skin made of calcium or
chitin, a radial symmetry body, has 5 arms, mouth on the bottom and anus on above part
of body, and lives in the sea with clear and undulating water. Echinodermata moves
slowly with the palm of its tube feet, its movement is regulated by a system of
 hydrostatic pressure called the water vascular system. This system function in
locomotion, feeding and gas exchange (Hala, 2007).
III. METHODOLOGY

a. Materials

The instruments used in this laboratory activity are specimen tray, forceps,
magnifying glass, microscope stereo microscope, camera, gloves, surgical mask and
stationary.
The materials used in this laboratory activity are invertebrate specimes, and 70%
ethanol.

b. Methods

The method used in this laboratory activity are:

1. The characters on several invertebrate specimens are observed by each group.
2. Some invertebrate specimens are identified by students based on the morphological
characters. Description is made by each student based on the identification observation.
3. The table of invertebrate characters observation and identification are completed by
students.
4. The interim reports are completed by students.
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Brotowidjoyo, D., 1989. Zoologi Dasar. Jakarta: Erlangga.

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Clifford, S., 1975. An Introduction to Numerical Classification. New York: Academic

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