Phylum
Classes/Examples
Symmetry
Body Layers
Skeleton
Porifera
(sponges)
Natural bath sponge
Glass sponges
Calcareous sponges
Asymmetrical
Some radially
semetrical
none
Spicules of Silicon
dioxide, calcium
carbonate, or spongin
Coelenterata
(Cnidaria)
hydra, jellyfish, coral
Radial symmetry
Hydrostatic
Platyhelminthes
(Flatworms)
Planaria, flukes,
tapeworms
Turbellaria – free living Bilateral symmetry
Trematoda- parasitic
Cestoda – parasitic
Ectoderm, endoderm
separated by a layer of
mesoglea (non-cellular)
Ectoderm, mesoderm and
endoderm
Nematoda
(Roundworms)
Ascaris
lumbricoides
Annelida
Earthworm, Leech
Neris
C. elegans
Ascaris
Trichina
Bilateral symmetry
Ectoderm, mesoderm and
endoderm
Hydrostatic
Oligochaeta
Polychaeta
Hirudinea
Bilateral symmetry
Ectoderm, mesoderm and
endoderm
Hydrostatic
Mollusca
clams, squid,
snails
Bilvalva
Gastropoda
Cephalopoda
Bilateral symmetry
Ectoderm, mesoderm and
endoderm
Hydrostatic and various
forms of a shell secreted
by mantle.
Arthropoda
insects, spiders,
crustaceans,
millipedes,
centipedes
Diplopoda
Chilopoda
Insecta, Arachnida
Crustacea
Bilateral symmetry
Ectoderm, mesoderm and
endoderm
Chitinous exoskeleton
Radial symmetry
Ectoderm, mesoderm and
endoderm
Excoskeleton of ossicles
Echinodermata
starfish, sand
dollar
sea urchins
None
Phylum
Respiratory
System
Circulatory
System
Nervous System
Porifera
(sponges)
None
Cellular diffusion
None
Coelenterata
(Cnidaria)
hyrda, jellyfish,
coral
Platyhelminthes
(Flatworms)
Planaria, flukes,
tapeworms
None
Cellular diffusion
None
None
Diffusion
None
Nerve ladder composed of
two longitudinal nerve
cords and lateral nerves
Flame cells
Nematoda
(Roundworms)
Ascaris
lumbricoides
Annelida
Earthworm, Leech
Neris
None
Diffusion
None
Anterior ganglion and
ventral nerve cord
Pores
Diffusion through
skin as respiratory
surface
Closed 5 “hearts” with
ventral and dorsal
blood vessel
Brain and nerve cords
Paired nephridia
Mollusca
clams, squid,
snails
Gills in bivalves and
cephalopods.
Vascularized mantle
in gastropods
Insect-Trachea &
spiracles. Arachnida
–book lungs.
Crustacea – gills
Water-vascular
system by diffusion
Open system in
bivalves and
gastropods. Closed in
cephalopods
Open system with
heart and ventral blood
vessel
Brain and ventral nerve
cords
Kidney
Brain and nerve cords
Open system
Brain and nerve cords/ring
Arachnidia & insect Malpighian tubules
Crustacean – green
gland
Water-vascular system
Arthropoda
insects, spiders,
crustaceans
Echinodermata
starfish, sand
dollar
sea urchins
None
Excretory System
None
Cellular diffusion
None
Cellular diffusion
Nerve net
Phylum
Appendages
Body Cavity
Digestive System
Reproductive
Means
Porifera
(sponges)
None
None
Osculum for water
to exit
None
Intracellular
(phagocytosis)
Asexual- budding and
regeneration
Sexual – gemmules
Coelenterata
(Cnidaria)
hyrda, jellyfish,
coral
Platyhelminthes
(Flatworms)
Planaria, flukes,
tapeworms
None
Tentacles with
nematocysts for protection
& food capture
None
Acoelomate
Extracelluar digestion in
gastrovascular cavity
mouth present
Asexual – budding and
regeneration.
Sexual hermaphroditic
Acoelomate
Turbellaria/planaria Mouth, protrusible
pharynx, branched
intestine
Parasitic - none
Complete mouth,
pharynx intestine and
anus
Asexual – regeneration
Sexual - hermaphroditic
Nematoda
None
(Roundworms)
Ascaris
lumbricoides
Annelida
May have tentacles (clam
Earthworm, Leech worm)
Neris
Pseudocoelomate
Sexual with separate
sexes
Coelomate
Complete, mouth,
pharynx, crop, gizzard,
intestine, anus
Sexual hermaphroditic
do not self-fertilize
Mollusca
clams, squid,
snails
May have tentacles
Coelomate
Sexual with both
hermaphroditic and
separate sexes
Arthropoda
insects, spiders,
crustaceans
Legs, wings, antenna, tail
Coelomate
Complete, mouth and
anus. Specialization of
feeding for different
classes see notes
Complete, mouth to
anus. Variations among
classes see notes
Echinodermata
starfish, sand
dollar
sea urchins
Tube feet, spines
Coelomate
Complete, mouth and
anus
Sexual separate sexes
Sexual with separate
sexes