INVERTEBRATES

No spinal column. Artificial classification: They are not evolutionary related.

INDEX:

1. Invertebrates
1.1. Definition
2. Poriferans
2.1. Definition
2.2. Morphology
2.3. Nutrition
2.4. Reproduction
3. Cnidarians
3.1. Definition
3.2. Morphology
3.3. Nutrition
3.4. Reproduction
4. Worms
4.1. Definition
4.2. Platyhelminthes
4.2.1. Definition
4.2.2. Reproduction
4.3. Nematodes
4.3.1. Definition
4.3.2. Reproduction
4.4. Annelids
4.4.1. Definition
4.4.2. Reproduction
4.4.3. Classes
5. Molluscs
5.1. Definition
5.2. Morphology
5.3. Digestive System
5.4. Respiratory System
5.5. Circulatory System
5.6. Nervous System
5.7. Reproduction
5.8. Classes
5.8.1. Gastropods
5.8.2. Bivalves
5.8.3. Cephalopods
5.8.3.1. Giant Squid

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6. Arthropods
6.1. Definition
6.2. Morphology
6.3. Digestive System
6.4. Reproductive System
6.5. Circulatory System
6.6. Nervous System
6.7. Skeletal System
6.8. Reproduction
6.9. Classes
6.9.1. Insects
6.9.2. Arachnids
6.9.3. Crustaceans
6.9.4. Myriapods
7. Echinoderms
7.1. Definition
7.2. Morphology
7.3. Nutrition
7.4. Reproduction
7.5. Classes
7.5.1. Asteroidea or Stelleroidea
7.5.2. Ophiuroidea
7.5.3. Echinoidea
7.5.4. Crinoidea
7.5.5. Holothuroidea
8. Importance of invertebrate animals

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Poriferans

Called sponges, simplest invertebrates, aquatic animals, live attached rocks.

Morphology:

Bag-shaped, hollow, no symmetry.

- INNER PART: Atrium

- BIG HOLE: Osculum
- SKELETON: Calcium carbonate little spines (spicules)

Nutrition:

Filter feeders: water enters pores and nutrients are absorbed by cells
(choanocytes).

Reproduction:

ASEXUAL (budding) or SEXUAL (eggs).

Cnidarians:

Jellyfish, anemones, hydra, corals. They are aquatic.

Morphology:

Radial symmetry. No organs & systems.

Soft body. Only one hole (mouth-anus) surrounded tentacles. Hollow body
(gastrovascular cavity)

Two forms:

- Medusa: Umbrella shape. Swimmers

- Polyp: Bag shape. Attached to soil

They sometimes make colonies: With many organisms together.

Nutrition:

Carnivorous (use tentacles)

They have stinging cells (cnidocytes), have poison that injected when touched.

Reproduction:

SEXUAL (medusa) & ASEXUAL (polyps)

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Worms:

Bilateral symmetry and elongated body. No skeleton, no limbs.

- Platyhelminthes: Flatworms, aquatic, parasites. Flat body, ring segments.

Reproduction: Sexual (hermaphrodites)

- Nematodes: Aquatic and terrestrial. Some parasites. Cylindric body without

segments. No respiratory system.

Reproduction: Sexual.

- Annelids: Called ringed worms. Cylindrical body divided in segments

(metameres). Have bristles to move.

Reproduction: Sexual. Separate sexes / Hermaphrodites. Cross-fertilization.

Types:

- Polychaetes: Aquatic. Filter-feeders / Carnivorous. A lot of bristles

- Oligochaetes: Terrestrial. Breathe through skin. Detritus feeders. Few
brittles.
- Hirunidean: Parasites (bloodsuckers)

Molluscs:

Aquatic, some terrestrial.

Morphology:

Bilateral symmetry, soft body. Three parts:

- Head: with sensory organs.

- Visceral Mass: with the main internal organs
- Muscular Foot: with different shapes.

Body covered by membrane (the mantle) that makes the shell.

Digestive System:

Has mouth, anus and glands. Herbivorous / Carnivorous.

Respiratory System:

Aquatic through gills, terrestrial through lungs.

Circulatory System:

Open circulatory system (blood goes out of blood vessels)

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Nervous System:

Well developed brain and sense organs.

Reproduction:

They are hermaphrodites and oviparous. Larva undergoes metamorphosis to

become adult.

Classes:

- Gastropods: (snails, slugs,...) Terrestrial and aquatic. One spiral-shaped

shell (slugs don’t). Four tentacles, eyes on two of them. Herbivores, have a
tong (radula) to rasp. Have a single muscular foot.

- Bivalves: (clams, mussels,...) Aquatic. Shell with two valves. No head. Filter
feeders. Single axe-shaped foot to excavate.

- Cephalopods: (octopus, squids,...) Aquatic. Internal shell (octopus don’t). Big

eyes, muscular foot = tentacles. Carnivorous, they have beak in the mouth.

Giant Squid: Up to 20 metres. Solitary predators (feed on fish,

cephalopods,...) Predator: Sperm Whale.

Arthropods:

90% of all animal species. Largest and most varied group of animals.
TERRESTRIAL / Aquatic.

Morphology:

Bilateral symmetry. Segmented body with exoskeleton.

Body in three parts: Head, Thorax and Abdomen.

THEY HAVE JOINTED LEGS. They have appendages.

Digestive System:

Mouth, anus and glands. Herbivorous / Carnivorous. Mouthparts adapted to their

type of eating.

Other appendages near mouth: Spiders have chelicerae (inject digestive juices,
venom) All insects have pedipalps.

Respiratory System:

Aquatic through gills, terrestrial through tracheae (tubules which transport directly to
cells)

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Circulatory System:

Open circulatory system.

Nervous System:

Well-developed brain and sense organs: eyes (very simple), ears, pedipalps,
antenna. Antenna can feel smell, flavours, heat or touch. They are attached to the
head between the eyes and vary the shape and form because of the use.

Skeletal System:

The exoskeleton does not grow, so they have to shed the old one (moulting,
ecdysis for arthropods). After that, the new soft cover hardens and becomes a new
one.

Reproduction:

Most hermaphrodites. Oviparous, fertilization is internal. Larva undergoes

metamorphosis.

Classes:

The criteria is how many legs, antenna and other body parts.

- Insects: (butterflies, bees, ants,...) Terrestrial. Carnivorous / Herbivorous.

Legs and wing attached to the torax, six legs, four wings (common), two
antennae.
- Arachnids: (spiders, scorpions,...) Terrestrial. Carnivorous. Two body parts
(cephalothorax and abdomen), eight legs, no antennae.
- Crustaceans: (lobsters, crabs,...) Aquatic. Filter-feeders / Herbivorous /
Carnivorous. Two body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen), ten legs or more,
2 of them claws (sometimes), four antennae.
- Myriapods: (centipedes, millipedes,...) Terrestrial. Carnivorous. Two body
parts (head and long segmented trunk), more than ten legs, four antennae.

Echinoderms:

Aquatic, in sea bed, some stable, others move very slowly.

Morphology:

Radial symmetry (by 5 equal sections). Internal skeleton (dermal skeleton). No

head.

Nutrition:

Mouth, anus and glands. Carnivorous. Exclusive system called ambulacral

apparatus (tubules with seawater, end in ambulacral feet, they are part of the
digestive, locomotory, respiratory, circulatory and excretory systems)

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Reproduction:

Sexual reproduction. Separated sexes / Hermaphrodites. Fertilisation is external.

Oviparous. Larva undergoes metamorphosis. Some species can regenerate ¾ of
their body.

Classes:

- Asteroidea or Stelleroidea: (starfish) Star-shaped, five arms, carnivorous.

- Ophiuroidea: (brittle stars) Star-shaped, long flexible arms. Filter-feeders /
carnivores / deposit feeders.
- Echinoidea: (sea urchins) rounded-shaped, long spines. Herbivorous.
- Crinoidea: (sea lilies) attached, feathery-shaped. Filter-feeders.
- Holothuroidea: (sea cucumbers) cylindrical-shaped. Mouth surrounded by
tentacles. Eat plankton.

Importance of invertebrate animals:

Benefits:

- Food source
- Raw materials
- Biodiverse habitats
- Protection from harmful insects (spiders)
- Scientific research
- Recycling organic matter (earthworms and beetles helps fertilise soil)

Harm:

- Plagues
- Diseases (malaria)
- Damage wood (termites)

THE END