Invertebrate Study Guide | ![]() |
- Understand the general organization and biology of a sponge, including reproduction and metabolism
- Understand how the body plan of a cnidarian differs from most other animals
- Describe the digestive system of a cnidarian and indicate how it is an evolutionary advancement from that of a sponge
- Differentiate among acoelomate, pseudocoelomate, and coelomate animals and give examples of each
- Understand the general organization of the phylum Platyhelminthes and how their various organ systems compare to those of other “lower” invertebrates
- Explain the structural and physiological changes that occur in parasitic organisms using the flatworm as examples
- Understand the general organization of the phylum Nematoda and compare their systems to those of acoelomate animals
- Differentiate between protostomes and deuterostomes and give examples of each
- Understand the basic organization of the mollusk and the importance of the mantle
- Describe the differences in body plan, reproduction, feeding, and respiration among the gastropods, bivalves, and cephalopods
- Explain the advantages of segmentation in Coelomic organisms and include the phyla that exhibit segmentation
- Understand the basic organization of annelids and how their organ systems compare to those of mollusks
- Indicate how annelids are more advanced than mollusks
- Understand how earthworms, leeches, and polychaetes differ form one another
- Know the main characteristics of all arthropods
- Differentiate between chelicerates and mandibulates in terms of appendages and mouthparts
- Describe ecdysis and know how it is controlled
- Understand the basic internal organization of the arthropods including their circulatory, digestive, respiratory, excretory, and nervous systems
- Differentiate between millipedes and centipedes
- Describe the external and internal characteristics of the class Insecta
- Understand the complexities of insect metamorphosis and differentiate between complete and incomplete metamorphosis
- Describe the body plan of adult echinoderms
- Differentiate among the five classes of echinoderms in terms of body plan, locomotion, tube feet modifications, and feeding strategy
- Explain reproduction in echinoderms