Lower Invertebrate Phyla
Representative
Animal
Types of
Symmetry
Body Plan
Digestion
Method of
Transport
Porifera
Sponges
Cnidaria
Jellyfish
Platyhelmenthes
Tapeworms
Nematoda
Roundworm
No Symmetry
Radial Symmetry
2 cell layers
Polyp or Medusa
Shape; 2 germ
layers
Extracellular – in
gastrovascular
cavity
Contraction of
cells controlled by
nerve net
Single entrance for
transport of
nutrients and
gases
Through
mouth/anus
Noncentralized
nerve net
Bilateral
Symmetry
3 Germ layers,
true organs,
anterior end
Digestive Cavitybranched
throughout body
Cilia
Bilateral
Symmetry
3 germ layers;
non-segmented,
covered by cuticle
Complete
digestive tract
Body cells have
direct contact to
outside O2
No circulatory
system
One opening for
digestive tract
Can respond to
stimuli- light,
chemicals
No digestive tract
Secreted through
anus
Cerebral Ganglia
Filter nutrients
through
spongocoel
Sessile
Method of Gas
Exchange
Pores
Method of Waste
Disposal
Nervous System
Amoebocytes
1 Distinguishing
Feature
Lack true tissues
No nerves
Cnideae
Parapodia
Pseudocoelomate
Higher Animal Phyla
Representative
Animal
Type of
Symmetry
Body Plan
Embryonic
Development
Gas Exchange
Waste
Disposal
Nervous
Mollusca
Squids
Annelida
Earthworm
Arthropoda
Insect
Echinodermata
Sea Stars
Bilateral
Bilateral
Bilateral
3 Germ layers;
foot, visceral
mass, mantle
Protostome
3 Germ layers;
segmented
3 Germ layers;
Various
appendages
Protostome
Bilateral,
Radial(adult)
3 Germ layers
Gills and
Nephridia
O2 and CO2
diffuses
through skin
Nephridia
Nephridia
Nerve Cords
Protostome
Developed
Trachea or gills
Chordota
Fish,
Mammals
Bilateral
3 Germ layers,
Deuterostome
Deuterostome
Water vascular
system, Gills
Trachea
Malpighian
Anus
tubules
Sensory organs Nerve
Anus
Dorsal, hollow
System
Circulation
Reproduction
Distinguishing
Feature
Nervous
System
Open
Closed
Sexual; many
Sexual
hermaphrodites hermaphroditic
but does not
self-fertilize)
Has a head-foot Heart with 5
pairs of aortic
arches
nerve cord
Open
Sexual
Hard
exoskeleton of
chitin
open
Fragmentation,
regeneration;
sexual(outside
fertilization)
Water vascular
system
closed
Sexual
Reproduction
Tail(or
coccyx)for
movement;
vertebrates