2662992 Biology Comparison of the Major Animal Phyla Chart

Biology: Life on Earth, 5th Edition Teresa and Gerald Audesirk

Comparison of the Major Animal Phyla Common Name

Sponges

Hydra, Anemones, Jellyfish

Flatworms

Roundworms

Segmented Worms Worms

(Phylum) Body Plan

(Porifera)

(Cnidaria)

(Platyhelminthes)

(Nematoda)

(Annelida)

Level of organization Germ layers Symmetry Cephalization Body cavity Segmentation Digestive System

Cellular – lack tissues and organs Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Intracellular

Tissue – lack organs

Organ system

Organ System

Organ system

Circulatory System Respiratory Respiratory System Excretory System (fluid regulation) Nervous system

Absent

Two Radial Absent Absent Absent Gastrovascular cavity; some intracellular Absent

Three Bilateral Present Absent Absent Gastrovascular cavity Absent

Three Bilateral Present Pseudoceol Absent Separate mouth and anus Absent

Three Bilateral Present Coelom Present Separate mouth and anus Closed

Absent

Absent

Absent

Absent

Absent

Absent

Absent Nerve net

Reproduction

Sexual; asexual (budding)

Sexual; asexual (budding)

Excretory gland cells Head ganglia with dorsal and ventral nerve cords Sexual (some hermaphroditic)

Nephridia

Absent

Canals with ciliated cells Head ganglia with longitudinal nerve cords

Head ganglia with paired ventral cords; ganglia in each segment Sexual (some hermaphroditic)

Support

Endoskeleton of spicules

Hydrostatic skeleton

Hydrostatic skeleton

Hydrostatic skeleton

Internal Systems

Sexual (some hermaphroditic); asexual (body splits) Absent

Biology: Life on Earth, 5th Edition Teresa and Gerald Audesirk

Comparison of the Major Animal Phyla Common Name

Snails, Clams, Squid

Insects, Arachnids, Crustaceans

Sea Stars, Sea Urchins

Vertebrates

(Phylum) Body Plan

(Mollusca)

(Arthropoda)

(Echinodermata)

(Chordata)

Level of organization Germ layers Symmetry

Organ system

Organ system

Organ system

Organ system

Three Bilateral

Three Bilateral

Three Bilateral

Cephalization Cephalization Body cavity Segmentation Digestive System

Present Coelom Absent Separate mouth and anus

Present Coelom Present Separate mouth and anus

Circulatory System Respiratory System Excretory System (fluid regulation) Nervous system

Open

Open

Three Bilateral larvae, radial adults Absent Coelom Absent Separate mouth and anus (normally) Absent

Gills, lungs

Tracheae, gills, or book lungs

Nephridia

Excretory glands resembling nephridia Head ganglia with paired ventral nerve cords; ganglia in some segments, some fused

Internal Systems

Reproduction

Well-developed brain in some cephalopods; several paired ganglia, most in the head; nerve network in body wall Sexual (some hermaphroditic)

Normally sexual

Present Coelom Present (but reduced) Separate mouth and anus Closed

Tube feet, skin gills, respiratory tree Absent

Gills, lungs

Head ganglia absent; nerve ring and radial nerves; nerve network in skin

Well-developed brain; dorsal nerve cord

Sexual (some hermaphroditic); asexual by regeneration (rare)

Sexual

Kidneys