INVERTEBRATE LAB SURVEY
Observe the organisms at each station and answer the review questions.
Phylum Porifera
1. What does Porifera mean? Why is this a good name for this phylum?
2. Describe the body plan of a sponge.
3. Name two specialized cells found in a typical sponge.
4. How do sponges eat?
5. Are sponges motile or sessile as adults?
What does this mean?
6. How do sponges have internal fertilization if they can’t move?
7. Sponges have no tissues, so how do they perform respiration, circulation and excretion?
8. What are gemmules?
Phylum Cnidarians
1. Give three examples of cnidarians.
2. Describe the body plan of a cnidarians.
3. What are the two body types of cnidarians? Briefly describe each.
4. Name two types of specialized cells and describe their function.
5. What type of fertilization do cnidarians perform?
6. Describe how cnidarians eat.
7. Describe the structure and function of a hydrostatic skeleton.
8. Describe the nervous system of a cnidarians.
Do they display cephalization?
9. How do cnidarians perform respiration, circulation and excretion?
Phylum Platyhelminthes:
1. Describe the body cavity of a flatworm.
2. Which class of flatworms is free-living?
3. What do the flukes and tapeworms have in common?
4. What do flame cells do?
5. What do eyespots detect?
6. Describe the response system of organisms in this phylum.
7. What is fission?
8. Why don’t tapeworms have a digestive tract?
Phylum Nematoda:
1. Describe the body cavity of a roundworm.
2. How do they feed?
3. What type of symmetry is displayed?
4. Are they Protostomes or deuterostomes?
5. Describe the nervous system of the nematodes.
Phylum Annelida:
1. Describe the body of an annelid.
2. Describe the digestive system of an earthworm.
3. What type of circulatory system does an annelid typically have?
4. What do nephridia do?
5. Describe the feeding method of leeches?
Phylum Mollusk:
1. Describe the basic body plan of mollusks. Name all four structures found in most mollusks.
2. Describe some of the different adaptations of the foot in various mollusks? (see page 712)
3. What is the structure used by snails and slugs for feeding?
4. What is the purpose of the siphon?
5. Compare the respiration of an aquatic mollusk and a land dwelling mollusk.
6. Describe the open circulatory system of a snail.
7. Why wouldn’t an open circulatory system work for a fast moving mollusk such as an octopus?
8. Describe the foot and shell and give an example of each Class:
a. Class Gastropoda:
b. Class Bivalve:
c. Class Cephalopoda:
9. Why are bivalves important in monitoring water quality?
Phylum Arthropoda:
1. Describe the basic body plan of an arthropod.
2. What is the exoskeleton of an arthropod made of?
3. How are the different groups of arthropods classified?
4. Describe the body plan of a crustacean.
What are some examples of crustaceans?
5. Are horseshoe crabs more closely related to the crabs or the spiders?
6. How do chelicerates respire?
7. Describe the body plan of an insect.
8. How do grasshoppers respire (breathe)? Describe the parts of their respiratory system.
9. How do terrestrial arthropods eliminate waste ex. grasshopper? What about the aquatic arthropods
ex. crayfish?
10. On a separate piece of paper, draw and label incomplete and complete metamorphosis (p. 744).
Phylum Echinodermata
1. What does Echinodermata mean?
Why is this name appropriate for this group?
2. Name four examples of echinoderms.
3. What type of symmetry do these animals have?
4. What are the 3 functions of the water vascular system?
5. Do these animals display cephalization? Describe their nervous system.
6. Are these animals usually hermaphrodites?
What type of fertilization do they perform?
7. Are these animals Protostomes or deuterostomes?
What does this mean?
8. Where would you find the tube feet on this animal (ventral (bottom) or dorsal (top))?
What 2 things are they used for?
9. What is unique about the feeding habits of this animal?
Comparison of all phyla
1. Which two phyla use hydrostatic skeletons for movement?
2. Which phyla is the first to display cephalization?
3. What is the most common method of respiration in aquatic animals?
4. How are sponges different from all the other phyla (what are they missing)?
5. Why does external fertilization have to occur in or around water?
6. What is the function of nephridia and malpighian tubules? What human organ are they similar to?
7. Which types of animals have open circulatory systems? Why is this not as efficient as a closed
circulatory system?
9. Compare the three worm phyla according to body structure.
10. Which animals have statocysts? Why is this important for their survival?
INVERTEBRATE LAB SURVEY
Observe the organisms at each station and answer the review questions.
Phylum Platyhelminthes:
9. Describe the body cavity of a flatworm. acoelomates
10. Which class of flatworms is free-living? Turbellarians
11. What do the flukes and tapeworms have in common? They are both parasitic flatworms
12. What do flame cells do? Filter and remove excess water and waste from the body
13. What do eyespots detect? Changes in the amount of light
14. Describe the response system of organisms in this phylum. Ganglia – groups of nerve cells that control
the nervous system (not a fully developed brain)
15. What is fission? Asexual reproduction where organism splits in two
16. How does the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni infect humans? What type of worm is this? What kinds
of symptoms can it cause? (see page 687) burrows into skin; Class Trematoda; causes Schistosomiasis
in which the eggs clog blood vessels causing swelling and tissue decay in the lungs, liver, spleen, or
intestines
17. Why don’t tapeworms have a digestive tract? Because they are surrounded by food that is already
digested and it can be directly absorbed through their body walls
Phylum Nematoda:
6. Describe the body cavity of a roundworm. Psuedocoelum
7. How do Ascaris lumbricoides infect humans? (see page 692) Veggies that are not washed properly
8. How are Ascaris eggs spread? Feces and eggs hatch in small intestines of new host
Phylum Annelida:
6. Describe the body of an annelid. Segmented body with true coelum
7. Describe the digestive system of an earthworm. Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, crop (stores food),
gizzard (grinds food), intestine, anus
8. What type of circulatory system does an annelid typically have? Closed
9. What do nephridia do? Eliminate cellular waste
10. Draw an earthworm and label the clitellum. What is the function of this band? Produces a protective
cocoon for young worms
11. What type of parasites are leeches? External
Phylum Molluska:
10. Describe the basic body plan of mollusks. True coelum with foot, mantle, shell and visceral mass
11. Describe some of the different adaptations of the foot in various mollusks? (see page 702) Flat, spade
shape, tentacles
12. What is the structure used by snails and slugs for feeding? Radula
13. What is the purpose of the siphon? Water enters and leaves through this tube
14. Compare the respiration of an aquatic mollusk and a land dwelling mollusk. Gills versus diffusion
through mantle
15. Describe the open circulatory system of a snail (page 703). Vessels to sinuses to gills to heart
16. Why wouldn’t an open circulatory system work for a fast moving mollusk such as an octopus? It
doesn’t transport oxygen to blood fast enough
17. How are the different classes of mollusks grouped? According to characteristics of their shell and foot
18. Describe the foot and shell of each Class: ( page 705-707)
a. Class Gastropoda:
b. Class Bivalvia:
c. Class Cephalopoda:
19. Why are bivalves important in monitoring water quality? They are filter feeders and pollutants are
concentrated in their bodies
Phylum Arthopoda:
11. Describe the basic body plan of an arthropod. Segmented body, exoskeleton, jointed appendages
12. What is the exoskeleton of an arthropod made of? What other phylum of organisms has this material
in it? Chitin and fungus
13. How are the different groups of arthropods classified? Based on the number and structure of their
body segments and appendages (including mouthparts)
14. Describe the body plan of a crustacean. What are some examples of crustaceans? 2 pairs of antennae,
2 or 3 body sections (cephalothorax and abdomen), mandibles (good for biting and grinding food);
crabs, shrimp, lobsters, crayfish
15. Are horseshoe crabs more closely related to the crabs or the spiders? Why? Spiders because of the
mouth parts (chelicerae), 2 body sections, and 4 pairs of walking legs
16. How do chelicerates respire? Book lungs or book gills
17. Describe the body plan of an insect. 3 segments (head, thorax, and abdomen), 3 pairs of walking legs
18. Which body segment are the legs attached in an insect? Thorax