Name: ___________________________
Introduction to Phyla: Scavenger Hunt
Earth carries millions of animal species that come in a spectacular array of shapes and sizes. Some even challenge
our conceptions about animals. Despite this wealth of species, the diversity of animal types is based on a limited
number of fundamental blueprints called body plans.
You will use the Introduction to Phyla link from Ms. Cesario’s webpage to answer the following questions.
Phylum Porifera-Sponges
1. How old are sponges considered in relationship to the other animal phyla noted?
2. What is the surface of a sponge like?
3. What does Porifera mean in Latin?
4. Explain how water is pumped through a sponge.
5. Describe the symmetry: _______________________
6. Describe the segmentation: ________________________________________________________________
7. Describe the layers: ______________________________
8. Describe the skeleton: ___________________________________
9. Describe how a sponge eats.
10. What is a choanocyte?
Phylum Cnidaria-Jellyfish, Corals, Anemones, Hydra
1. What is the difference between the medusa and polyp?
2. Describe the “shared openings” of phylum cnidarian.
3. Describe the types of layers in phylum cnidarian.
4. How does the mesoglea relate to motion?
5. What are the layers?
6. What are nermatocysts?
7. How do Cnidarian capture their prey?
8. Where does the word Cnidaria come from?
Phylum Platyhelminthes-Flatworms
1. What does Platyhelminthes mean in Latin?
2. Describe the symmetry: ______________________________________________________
3. Describe the nervous system: ___________________________
4. How many tissue layers: ________________________
5. Describe the types of systems:
6. What are eyespots?
7. What is so important about the head region?
8. What does the word triploblastic mean?
9. What is the importance of the mesoderm?
10. What does it mean to be hermaphroditic mean?
11. Why are tapeworms parasitic?
Phylum Annelida-Polychaetes, Earthworms, Leeches & Cambrian Explosion
1. Describe the body cavity: _______________________________________
2. Describe the circulatory system:
3. Describe the body wall: ________________________________________
4. Describe the gut: ____________________________________________________
5. What is setae?
6. What type of symmetry is Annelida? _________________________________________
7. What is so special about the “rings” of a worm?
8. What does Annelida mean?
9. Why is a fluid-filled coelom important?
Phylum Arthropodia-Crustaceans, Spiders, Millipedes, Centipedes, Insects
1. How would you describe the exoskeleton of Arthropodia?
2. Describe the appendages:
3. Describe the segment:
4. How do crustaceans grow?
5. Where do the muscles attach?
6. What does arthropoda mean?
7. What does metamorphosis mean?
8. What is special about the evolution of arthropodia?
9. What is a key feature of arthropodia?
Phylum Mollusca-Clams, Snails, Slugs, Nautilus, Octopus
1. What does the word Mollusca mean in Latin?
2. Describe the shell of a mollusk
3. What is a radula?
4. What is the function of a radula?
5. What is the purpose of the muscular foot?
6. What is the composition of the shell of mollusks?
7. How would you describe the diversity of the cells?
Phylum Echinodermata-Sea stars. Sea lilies, Sea urchins, Sea cucumber, Brittle stars
1. Where do these animals live at?
2. How would you describe the symmetry?
3. How does the water vascular system operate?
4. How would you describe the symmetry from larva to adult?
5. How do sea stars use tube feet?
6. How would you describe what Echinodermata are made of?
7. What does Echinodermata mean?
Phylum Chordata-Tunicates, Lancelets, Vertebrates, including Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals
1. What is the purpose of a notochord?
2. What is the purpose of a dorsal nerve?
3. What is the purpose of a pharyngeal gill slit or cleft?
4. What are the two main groups of vertebrates
Getting to the Root of Things
“Echinoderm” is one of many examples of animal names based on Latin or Greek roots. Echino means “spiny.”
Derm means “skin.” So... Echinoderm means “spiny skin.” See if you can create five animal names using the word
roots below.
bi = two
endo = inside
echino = spine
cephal = head
tri = three
ecto = outside
ramus = branch
som = body
poly = many
peri = around
cerv = neck
pod = foot
chloro = green
noto = back
chele = claw
stom = mouth