Registration No: BSZOOL02193019

Submitted by: Rafya Habib

Submitted to: Dr. Majid
Subject: Evolution and principle of systematics
Title: Characteristics of invertebrates phylums

The University of Lahore

The 9 main phyla of
Invertebrates:
• Phylum Porifera
• Phylum Cnidarians
• Phylum Platyhelminthes
• Phylum Echinodermata
• Phylum Mollusca
• Phylum Nematoda
• Phylum Arthropoda
• Phylum Annelida
• Phylum Chordata

1. Phylum Porifera:
2. Their bodies consists of loosely organized cells.
3. They vary in size from less than a centimeter to a
mass that can fill your arm.
4. They are asymmetrical or radially symmetrical.
5. They have three cell types: pinacocytes,
mesenchyma cell, and choanocytes.
6. They have central cavity or spongocoel. This
cavity may be divided into series of branching
 chambers. Water circulates through these
chambers for feeding.
7. Numerous pores are present in the body wall, i.e.
ostia and osculum.
8. They have no tissue or organ.
9. Skeleton is composed of spicules.
10. Nervous system is absent but neurosensory
cells are present.
11. Asexual reproduction takes place by
budding.
12. They are hermaphrodites and larvae are
produced during development.

Example: sponges
Estimated no.of species : 3000
2. Phylum Cnidaria: (Coelenterata)

1. They have radial or biradial symmetry.

2. They have diploblastic and tissue-level organisation.
3. They contain gelatinous mesoglea between the
epidermal and gastrodermal tissue layers.
4. A gastrovascular cavity is present in them.
5. Nervous system in the form of a nerve network is
present.
6. Specialized cells called cnidocytes are present. They
are used for defense, feeding, and attachment.
7. These are mostly marine and a few like hydra live in
fresh water.
8. Polyp and medusa are the two different forms of
Cnidarians. Polyp is hydroid form which is sessile
with mouth-up orientation. Medusa is umbrella or bell
shaped with mouth down orientation. It swims by
constricting the bell.
9. Exchange of respiratory gases and elimination of the
excretory wastes occur by diffusion through the body
wall.
10. Asexual reproduction takes place by budding,
fission and fragmentation.
Example: jellyfish, corals, anemones, hydra
Estimated no. Of species: 9200
3. Phylum Platyhelminthes:
1. They are flatworms. They range in adult size from
1mm or less to 25 m.
2. Parenchyma that fills spaces between other more
specialized tissues, organs, and the body wall.
Parenchyma is derived from mesoderm.
3. Parenchyma provide support nutrient storage,
motility and reserves of regenerative cells. They
also have role in transport materials, structural
interactions with other tissues, modifiable tissue for
morphogenesis and oxygen storage.
4. This is the first phylum that has an organ-system
level of organisation.
5. They are flattered dorsoventrally.
6. They are triploblastic, acoelomate, bilaterally
symmetrical.
7. They are unsegmented worms.
8. They have incomplete gut. Gut is absent in Cestoda.
9. They are cephalized (head is present). Head has an
anterior cerebral ganglion and longitudinal nerve
cord.
10. Excretory/ osmoregulatory structures are
protonephridia.
11. They are hermaphrodite and they have complex
reproductive systems.
 Example: Flatworms, flukes, tapworms
Estimated no. Of species: 15000

4. Phylum Nematoda:
1. Round worms feed on every source of organic matter.
They feed on rotting substances in the living tissues of
other invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants.
2. They are from microscopic to several meters long.
3. Many nematodes are parasites of plants or animals.
Some are free living in marine, fresh water or soil
habitats. Some nematodes play an important role in
recycling nutrients in soils and bottom sediments.
4. There are two common characteristics between
nematodes and arthropods:
a) Nematodes and arthropods lack cilia.
b) The sperm of nematodes and arthropods are
amoeboid.
5. They are triploblastic, bilateral, vermiform,
unsegmented, pseudocoelomate.
6. Their body is rounded in cross section.
7. Body is covered by a cuticle. Growth takes place by
molting.
8. They have complete digestive tract. Mouth is
surrounded by lips. Sense organs are present on lips.
9. They have unique excretory system. It is composed of
one or two renette cells or a set of collecting tubules.
10. Their body wall contains only longitudinal
muscles.
 Example: escaris, vinegar eels, hookworms,
nematodes, pinworms
Estimated no. of species: 50000

5. Phylum Mollusca:
 1. Body has two parts: head-food and visceral mass.
2. Mentle secrets a calcareous shell. It covers the visceral
mass.
3. Mentle cavity functions in excretion, gas exchange,
elimination of digestive wastes, and release of
reproductive products.
4. They have bilateral symmetry.
5. The develop protostome characteristics like
trochophore larvae, spiral cleavage, and
schizocoelous coelom formation.
6. Coelom reduced to a cavity. This cavity surrounds the
heart, nephridia, and gonads.
7. They have open circulatory system except in one class
( Cephalopoda).
8. Radula is present. It is used in scraping of food.
9. The head comprises of tentacles and compound eyes.
10. Muscular foot helps in locomotion.

Example: snails, clams, squids, octopi, other

mollusks
Estimated no. Of species: 70000
6. Phylum Annelida:

1. Their body is metameric, bilaterally symmetrical, and

wormlike.
2. They show protostome characteristics include spiral
cleavage, trochophore larvae and schizocoelous
coelom formation.
3. They have painted epidermal setae. Setae helps in
movement.
4. They have closed circulatory system.
5. They have dorsal supra pharyngeal ganglia and ventral
nerve cords with ganglia.
6. They develop metanephridia.
7. Regeneration is common characteristic of Annelida.
8. Their body is segmented.
9. Nephridia are excretory organs.
10. They respire through body surface.
Example: Earthworm, leeches, lugworms
Estimated no. Of species: 22000
7. Phylum Arthropoda:

1. They show metamerism. Metamerism is modified

by the specialization of body regions for specific
functions (tagmatization).
2. Chitinous exoskeleton provides support and
protection. It is modified to form sensory structures.
3. They have paired jointed appendages.
4. Ecdysis or molting takes place during growth.
5. They have ventral nervous system.
6. Coelom reduced to cavities. These cavities are
reduced to gonads and sometimes excretory organs.
7. They have open circulatory system. Blood is
released into tissue spaces (haemocoel) derived
from the blastocoel.
8. They have complete digestive tract.
9. Metamorphosis is often present. It reduces
competition between immature and adult stages.
10. Head bears a pair of compound eyes.
Example: crabs, scorpions, insects, spiders,
millipedes, centipedes, barnacles
Estimated no. Of species: 750,000
8. Phylum Echinodermata:

1. They have a star-like appearance and are spherical

or elongated.
2. They are exclusively marine animals.
3. The organisms are spiny-skinned.
4. They exhibit organ level of organisation.
5. They are triploblastic and have a coelomic cavity.
6. The skeleton is made up of calcium carbonate.
7. They have an open circulatory system.
8. They respire through gills or cloacal respiratory
tree.
9. They have a simple radial nervous system and the
excretory system is absent.
10. The body is unsegmented with no distinct
head. The mouth is present on the ventral side
while the anus is on the dorsal side.
11. The tube feet aids in locomotion.

Example: sea star, brittle stars, sea

urchins, sea cucumbers
Estimated no.of species: 5000
9. Phylum Chordata:

1.Presence of a notochord
2.They are backboned animals (vertebrates )
3.Most of the living chordates are familiar
vertebrate animals.
4.Presence of dorsal hollow nerve cord.
5.Blood vascular system: present, closed type.
6.Ventral heart, hepatic portal system and RBC a
Are present.
7.Germ layer: Triploblastic.
8.Symmetry: bilateral symmetry body.
9.Coelom: Present and well developed.
10.Presence of gills(pharyngeal) slits.
11.Presence of post anal tail.

Example: Sea squirts, lancelets

Estimated no.of species: 2000