Term | Definition |
Animalia | The kingdom that contains the largest number of species on our planet |
Invertebrates | Animals that do not possess a backbone |
Vertebrates | Animals that possess a backbone |
Porifera | These are commonly called sponges |
substrate | Even though sponges are considered animals, they do not move because they are attached to a bottom surface , which is often called this |
pore cells | A simple small sponge, the outer surface is covered with smooth cells and interrupted by tube-like these that allow water to move into the animal |
collar cells | Inside the canals of the sponge's body are these and each of these cells has a flagellum that moves to create currents of water which flow into the sponge |
osculum | A large opening on a sponge through which filtered water is expelled |
laterally | When water always enters sponges from the sides |
apically | Water always leaves sponges through the top |
ascon, sycon , and leucon | The three basic sponge body types |
aggregation | One remarkable “behavior” of sponges is known as this, if a sponge is broken up into tiny bits, the fragments can actually come back together and reorganize, which forms a new individual |
spicules | the larger and more complex sponges are big enough to require a form of support, some have a network of this made of calcium carbonate or silica |
spongin | Many sponges have a web-like skeleton of elastic protein fibers called this, this skeleton provides support for the sponge, but it is much more flexible than spicules |
amoebocytes | Cells within a sponge that produce its skeletal structure, perform digestion, and repair cell damage |
budding | Another type of asexual reproduction in sponges is this when an individual develops a small outgrowth on its body, and grows for a while, then pinched off so it is separated from its parent |
gemmule | A group of cells surrounded by a shell made of spicules |
larva | An immature stage of an animal that appears different from the adult stage |
amphiblastula | collar cells develops into gametes and sperm are released into the water, entering another sponge the sperm joins the eggs, development occurs , cells multiply until they form a cluster of cells surrounded with a layer of flagellated cells, called this |
metamorphosis | A complete morphological change from larval to adult form |
morphological | refers to the form and structure of a living organism |
Cnidaria | this phylum contains jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones |
coelenterates | Cnidaria are sometimes called this |
coel | a large body cavity |
Spherical symmetry | A body form in which any cut through the organism's center results in identical halves |
Radial symmetry | A body form in which any longitudinal cut (along the length) through the organism's central axis results in identical halves |
Bilateral symmetry | A body form in which only one longitudinal cut through the organism's center results in identical halves |
oral side | the side with the mouth |
aboral side | the side without the mouth |
Polyp | An attached cnidarian stage, appearing sac-like or barrel-like |
Medusa | A free-swimming cnidarian stage, appearing bell-like or umbrella-like |
mouth | a organism uses this to eat |
tentacles | these surround the mouth and capture food |
nematocysts | unique stinging structures on tentacles that can paralyze prey or ward off predators |
gastrovascular cavity | where food is digested |
mesoglea | A jelly-like substance between the inner layer and outer layer of cells in a cnidarian |
ectoderm | on the outside |
endoderm | on the inside |
carnivores | Nearly all of the cnidarians are this which mean they prey on other animals |
planula | a free-swimming larval stage |
nerve cells | simple nervous system made up of these specialized cells in most cnidarians which enables some species to identify each other and to coordinate the “pulsing” of medusoid forms for orientation in the water column |
Hydrozoa | any freshwater or marine coelenterate including free-swimming or attached types, belong in this class |
Scyphozoa | Members of this class spend most if not all of their life cycle as a large medusa form |
Anthozoa | this class contains over 6,000 species, members are either solitary or colonial, spending their entire life cycle in the polyp stage, coral reef, fans, sea plumes, black corals, soft corals sea pens, and Sea anemones |
coral reef | a long line of coral that lies in warm, shallow water |
zooxanthellae | produce carbon-containing compounds (like sugars) by photosynthesis, and give some to the corals |
sea fans, sea plumes, or black corals | these are colonial anthozoans that form branching or elongated skeletons |
soft corals and sea pens | these are anthozoans that form colonies that do not have hard skeletons |
Sea anemones | have no hard skeleton, are common anthozoans, most of which are large, muscular polyps existing as solitary individuals or colonies |
Ctenophora | a small group of radially symmetric, gelatinous-bodied marine organisms (jellyfish) |
comb jellies | Ctenophora are also called this |
combs or ctenes | located vertically within the jellyfishes bodies, actually long cilia fused at their bases to look like a comb |
Dorsal | Referring to the top (or back) surface of an animal |
Ventral | Referring to the bottom (or belly) surface of an animal |
anterior | a defined head end |
Platyhelminthes | Animals in this phylum are called flatworms because of their flattened shape |
central nervous system | coordinates the movements of the flatworms well-developed muscles |
intestine | a baglike structurethat has only one opening, the mouth, through which food enters and wastes are expelled |
Mutualism | A relationship between two or more organisms of different species where both benefit from the association |
Commensalism | A relationship between two or more organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is neither harmed nor benefited |
Parasitism | A relationship between two or more organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed |
Nemertea | composed of organisms commonly called ribbon worms |
proboscis | the most interesting feature of the ribbon worms is a long, tubular this used for defense and to capture prey, which extends and entangles prey |
Nematoda | these members are known as roundworms |
Annelida | The segmented worms belong in this phylum |
Coelom | A body cavity within organisms containing specialized tissue |
segmentation | a body design made up of a series of similar compartments, or segments like the earthworm is called this |
Polychaeta | members of this class are usually called polychaetes |
parapodia | n each of the segments of a polychaete, there is a pair of small, flattened extensions called this |
Gills | Extensions of the body containing thin-walled blood vessels that allow for easy absorption of oxygen from the outside surface |
trochophore | Fertilization and development yield a larval stage called this which is a free-swimming, ciliated, planktonic stage that eventually metamorphoses into an adult polychaete. |
Lophophorates | these are given their name because of a special structure they use for feeding called a lophophore |
suspension feeders | This makes lophophorates this meaning they obtain their food from plankton and other particles of organic matter suspended in the water |
Bryozoa | Members of this group are commonly called moss animals |
Phoronida | These organisms look like polychaete worms and build tubes made out of sand grains |
Brachiopoda | these animals look like clams, but they are not true clams |
lamp shells | what Brachiopoda is commonly called |