Worm
Nervous System:

Describe the
location of the
central nerve
cord?

How does the
organism sense
its
surroundings?

Identify and
describe the
sense organs.
Circulatory System:

Open or Closed

Description

List the
structures
involved.

Heart present?
If so, how many
chambers?
Respiratory System

Describe how it
exchanges
gases.

List the
structures
involved.
Crayfish
Starfish
Frog
Mammal Example
Digestive System:

Describe the
path of ingested
food.

Identfiy and
describe the
structures and
glands
involved.

Complete
digestive
system or
Digestive
glands?
Excretory System:

Describe the
structures
involved in
excreting
nitrogeonous
wastes.

Explain how
liquid wastes
are excreted.
Skeletal System:

Endo – or
Exoskeleton?

Describe how
this type of
skeleton affects
the growth of
the organism.
Reproductive System:

Sexual or
Asexual?

Separate Sexes
or
Hermaphrodites
?

Internal or
External
Fertilization?

Regeneration
possible?
Discussion Questions:
1.
What is the relationship between germinal layers and the formation of body cavity in case of coelomate, acoelomates and pseudocoetomates?
2. What are the advantages of having a bilaterally symmetrical body over other types of symmetry?
3. What are the advantages of “stereo-senses”?
4.
What are the advantages of having a segmented body?
5.
Most vertebrates have jaws. Why are jaws important?
6.
One of the traits that appeared in later animals included jointed appendages. What is special about arthropod appendages?
7.
As we studied earth’s history we learned that some of the first organisms on land were early arthropods. What features of the arthropod
body plan allowed them to invade land?
8. What are the reasons that you can think of for the arthropods to constitute the largest group of the animal kingdom?
9. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having an internal skeleton like ours as opposed to an external skeleton that is shed in order to
grow?
10. Humans often think of arthropods as creepy-crawlies that sting and bite but some are actually necessary for human survival. Make a twocolumn list of some of the good things and some of the bad things about insects with regard to their immediate impact on humans.
11. If you are given a specimen, what are the steps that you would follow to classify it?
12. “All vertebrates are chordates but all chordates are not vertebrates”. Justify the statement.
13. For each organism answer the following:



What specialized adaptations make the organism unique?
What characteristics distinguish this organism from the others?
In which habitats is such an organism found?
o What are the conditions of such habitats?
o What adaptations does the organism have for survival in their habitats?
o What are some possible food chains/food webs for this organism?
o Does this organism play a part in cycling material back into the habitats?
14. What are the modifications that are observed in birds that help them fly?
15. Mammals are most adapted among the animal kingdom. Elaborate.