BASIS OF CLASSIFICATION

Levels of Body cavity

Kingdom Organisation Symmetry or Coelom Phylum
Mostly
Cellular level Acoelomate Porifera
asymmetrical
Coelenterata
(Cnidaria)
Radial Acoelomate
Animalia
Ctenophora
(multicellular)

Tissue/Organ/ Without body cavity Platyhelminthes

Organ system (acoelomates)

With false coelom Aschelminthes

Bilateral
(pseudocoelomates) Annelida
Arthropoda
With true coelom Mollusca
(coelomates) Echinodermata
Hemichordata
Chordata
WHY NEED OF BASIS OF CLASSIFICATION ?

In spite of differences in structure and form of different animals.

There are fundamental features common to various individuals

in relation to the arrangement of cells, body symmetry, nature
of coelom, patterns of digestive, circulatory or reproductive
systems.

These features are used as the basis of animal classification.

LEVELS OF ORGANISATION

Cell Cells are arranged as loose cell aggregates

with some division of labour e.g, Porifera

TISSUE Cells performing similar functions are arranged

into tissues. e.g, Cnidarians and Ctenophora

ORGAN Tissues are grouped together to form

organs e.g, Platyhelminthes

Organ System Organs associate to form organ system.

e.g, Aschelminthes to Chordates
Symmetry

It is the
arrangement of
similar body parts
on 2 sides of main
axis of the body.
Animals on the basis of symmetry are of three types
Asymmetrical
Body cannot be divided into 2 similar parts.
e.g, Most poriferans, Snails.
Radially symmetrical

When any plane passing through the central axis of the body
divides the organism into two identical halves
e.g, some Poriferans, Cnidarians , Ctenophores and Echinoderms
(adult)

Bilaterally symmetrical
Here, body can be divided into identical right & left
halves in only one plans.
e.g, Platyhelminthes to Chordates
(except adult Echinodermata).
 GERMINAL LAYERS
Diploblastic Animals
2 germ layers- outer ectoderm
and inner endoderm.
In between these layers, an
Undifferentiated jelly like layer
called mesoglea is present.
e.g, Cnidaria and Ctenophora
Triploblastic Animals
3 germ layers- outer ectoderm
middle mesoderm and inner
endoderm
e.g, Platyhelminthes to
Chordates

ECTODERM

MESOGLEA

MESODERM

ENDODERM
Coelom (Body cavity)

Acoelomate Body cavity is absent.

e.g, Porifera to Platyhelminthes.

Pseudo- Body cavity is not lined by mesoderm.

coelomate Mesoderm is present in
(False
scattered pouches.
coelomate)
e.g, Aschelminthes

Coelomate Coelom is lined by mesoderm

(True coelomate) and filled with coelomic fluid
e.g, Annelida to Chordata
Body plan

Cell-aggregated type e.g, Porifera

Blind sac body type
Only single opening to the out side of the body that
serves as both mouth and anus.
e.g, Coelenterates to Platyhelminthes

Tube with in tube

Found in those animals having complete digestive tract
i.e. with separate openings mouth and anus.
e.g, Aschelminthes to chordates.
Segmentation

Pseudo Segmentation e.g, Tapeworm

Segmentation
In some animals the body is externally and internally divided
into segments with a serial repetition of at least some organs.
For example , in earthworm ,the body shows this pattern called
metameric segmentation and the phenomenon is known as
metamerism.
 Notochord
It is mesodermally derived supporting rod like structure
formed on the dorsal side during embryonic development
in some animals

Non-chordates Chordates

Animals without notochord Animals with notochord

e.g :- Porifera to Hemichordata e.g :- Chordata
 Circulatory system
Open Closed
In which the blood is pumped In which the blood is circulated
out of the heart and the cells & through a series of vessels of
tissues are bathed in it. varying diameter i.e. Arteries,
e.g, Arthropods, Molluscs, veins and blood capillaries.
Echinodermates, Hemichordata e.g, Annelids , most of the
& lower chordates like tunicates. Chordates, Cephalopod Molluscs
PHYLUM-PORIFERA
Pore Bearing Animals
Habit/Habitat They are sessile , solitary or colonial
Aquatic mostly marine but few are also found in fresh
water(e.g. Spongilla) .
Symmetry
Sponges have various body form and shapes -mostly
Asymmetrical but few are radially symmetrical
like Sycon and Leucosolenia
Level of organisation Cellular
Body plan Body plan – cell aggregate

Coelom Acoelomate animals

Special Feature
Water Canal System/Water Transport System
Osculum The unique feature of sponges

Water enters through ostia in the

body wall into spongocoel and
Ostia
goes out through osculum.

This pathway helpful in food

Food
gathering(nutrition)

Respiration and excretion takes

place by diffusion of gases
Water
through body surface.

Excretory matter is ammonia.

Water Canal System/Water Transport System

Water

Ostia

Spongocoel

Osculum

Water Out
 Body wall
Outer Pinacoderm :-Consists of Pinacocyte
Pinacocytes and porocytes .
Inner Choanoderm :-
Consist of flagellated collar
cells or choanocytes.
(unique character of porifera) Porocytes
Middle Mesenchyme :-
Between these two layers Choanocyte
a gelatinous material mesenchyme
is present which contains certain Mesenchyme
amoebocytes cells like scleroblasts,
archeocytes

Inner Outer
Choanoderm Pinacoderm
 CHOANOCYTES

Functions of collar cells

To make continuous flow of water

Intracellular digestion

Distribution of food from collar cells to other cells is

brought by movable amoeboid cells (Trophocytes).