PHYLUM

ECHINODERMATA

Echinodermata
Echinoderms
includes
the
invertebrates.
Echinodermata include common seashore animals such
as sea stars (also known as "starfish"), sand dollars and
sea urchins, along with hundreds of more exotic forms.
Their basic body plan is very different from other
animals, but their closest living relatives are the Phylum
Chordata (which includes the vertebrates).

Characteristic of Echinoderms
Free living exclusively marine forms.

Adults are radially symmetrical while larvae are bilaterally

symmetrical.
Body is represented by a central disc covered by ossicles with spines
called pedicellaria.
Disc may bear extensions called arms.
Digestive system is complete.
A unique ambulacral or water vascular system is present.
Nervous system has a central nerve ring with five radiating nerves.
Reproduction is sexual. Sexes are separate. Development is indirect.
Show very high power of regeneration.
Tube feet are for feeding as well.

Classification of
Echinoderms
Asteroidea

Classification
of
Echinoderms

Ophiuroide
a
Echinoidea
Holothuroi
dea
Crinoidea

Class
These are the typical sea stars found along the
Asteroidea
seashore. They generally have hollow arms, into which the
coelomic cavity extends; the radial canals are located on
the outside of the skeleton. Asteroids crawl by concerted
actions of their podia, and so are very sluggish movers.

Class
The ophiuroids are active crawlers with whip-like arms that wriggle like
Ophiuroidea
snakes (hence they are sometimes called serpent stars). They have a robust
central disc that contains all the viscera. The arms are not hollow, but are filled
with a series of articulating ossicles resembling the vertebrate backbone.
Ophiuroids are also called brittle stars because of their habit of releasing arms at
ossicle sutures to escape predation or other antagonistic behaviors. This process
of releasing a limb is called autotomy. The lost limb is eventually regenerated.

Class
This group includes the sea urchins (regular echinoids), heart urchins (spatangoids), and
Echinoidea
sand dollars (clypeasteroids). Echinoids are usually globular, discoidal or heart-shaped and
have a skeleton made of many calcitic plates. The skeleton has five ambulacral areas, each
numerously perforated for the tube feet, and five interambulacral areas, which bear spines.

Class
These are the sea cucumbers, which do not superficially resemble any
Holothuroidea
of the other echinoderms. Close examination however reveals that they do
have a pentaradial symmetry, but the anus is opposite the mouth on an
elongated oral-aboral axis. The calcitic plates are reduced to dermal,
microscopic sclerites, which are often used in classification schemes.

Class
The typical
Crinoidea
(holdfast) at the

crinoid has a long stem with "roots" or some other attachment device
lower end, and a cup-shaped thecum at the top. Several arms extend from
the dorsal surface of the theca to collect suspended food. These arms are commonly branched
and bear calcitic columnals very similar to those of blastoids and cystoids. Some crinoids have
lost the stem and become mobile. Recent crinoids are found mostly at bathyal depths.

The Benefits of Echinoderms For Life

Chips from the sea cucumber

Sea urchin eggs are widely consumed in Japan
As a cleaner beach
Biologists often use sea urchin gametes and embryos for research material

The Loss of Echinoderms For Life

Spines of sea urchins which are toxic can cause death if treated quickly

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