ZEB 221- INTRODUCTION TO HIGHER INVERTEBRATES

All the animals are generally classified under the kingdom Animalia. On the other hand,
animals, for convenience sake, can be equally divided into two (2) depending on the
presence or absence of a notochord; they are vertebrates and invertebrates, respectively.
Invertebrates, which are our main focus in this course, can further be divided based on two
factors, notably; based on cellular composition and organ composition. For the former,
invertebrates are divided into four (4), they include: protozoa (unicellular), mesozoa
(primitive multicellular), parazoa (multicellular) and metazoan (multicellular). For the latter
(division based on organ composition), invertebrates are divided into three (3), namely;
protozoa (no tissue or organ), porifera (no coordinated tissue or organ, mostly operate at the
cellular level) and metazoan (show tissue and organ levels of organization).
Still for the sake of this course, we will focus more on the metazoans. Metazoans can be
divided into two based on both the number of embryonic germ layers and the level of its
organization. Those that have two (2) embryonic germ cell layers (ectoderm and endoderm)
and show tissue levels of organization are called diploblastic animals. While those that have
three (3) embryonic germ cell layers (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm) and show organ
levels of organization are called triploblastic animals.
Diploblastic animals form the group called coelenterata (cnidarian and ctenophorans). They
have an enteron or gut with a single opening serving for both intake of food and exit of waste
materials. There digestion is partly intracellular and partly extracellular. Adding to that, they
are radially symmetrical.
Triploblastic animals, on the other hand, is divided into three (3), namely Acoelomate,
Pseudo-coelomate and Coelomate (or Eucoelomate). Here, the acoelomates are bilaterally
symmetrical and they have no coelom (body cavity) hence internal organs cannot move
freely. Adding to that, their gut, if present, has just one opening hence no anus and excretion
is by means of flame cells (draw a transverse section of an acoelomate). Examples include:
tapeworm, flatworm and liver fluke amongst others. On the other hand, the pseudo-
coelomates lack a true coelom because there is only one mesoderm lining the coelom by its
side. There is no lining of the endothelium cells and they must have evolved from
acoelomate. Examples include: rotifers and nematodes (draw a transverse section of a psudo-
coelomate). Finally, coelomates, which are the only Higher Invertebrates, have true coelom
(a fluid filled cavity) because there are two mesoderms (the somatic and splanchnic
mesoderms) lining the coelom by its two sides. They are equally bilaterally symmetrical and
there is lining of their endothelium that plays a major role in the secretion of coelomic fluids.
Their body walls have several layers of muscles and it is important to note that they did not
evolve from pseudo-coelomates. Here, their gut has two (2) openings where one serves for
intake of food and the other, for waste disposal. Adding to that, they are metamerically
segmented. Examples of coelomates (higher invertebrates) include: arthropods, annelids,
echinoderms and molluscs (draw a transverse section of a coelomate).
Functions or advantages of the coelom include:
It enables the animal to attain a larger size because the space that is between the somatic and
splanchnic mesoderms (i.e. coelom) is large enough to house organs and as well allow them
to develop and perform their duties without any interference from other organs.
Allows movement of the body wall (during locomotion) to take place with little or no effect
on the gut because the coelom separates the gut from the body wall.
Coelom fluid gives support, protection and assistance during locomotion. Here, the fluid acts
as a shock absorber for the internal organs (visceral mass).
Due to the incompressibility of the coelomic fluid, shape is always maintained.
It plays a major role in excretion and osmoregulation in lower animals, such as annelids and
in others; it equally enhances reproduction by serving as a transport or storage medium.
Consequently, the only disadvantage of a coelom is that the outside activities are cut off
from the inner part of the body; hence energy is spent to transport both food and oxygen to
those parts via their different ducts.
Coelomates can further be divided into two (2) based on the part of their embryonic body
that develops first. Here, when the mouth develops first, they are called protostomes.
Examples include most invertebrates. While when the anus is the first to develop, they are
called deuterostomes. Examples include echinoderms and chordates.

METAMERIC SEGMENTATION
Metamerism may be defined as the serial repetition of homologous parts (i.e. parts derived
from same origin). Putting the two together, metameric segmentation is the differentiation of
cell of an animal into linear series of units or segments where each is built on the same plane
and contains elements of some of the main system or organ, for example the muscles of the
body (especially that of the digestive tract), blood vessels e.t.c. Here, each segment is
demarcated externally by an anterior and posterior groove while internally, they are
separated by septa. In metamerism, all the segments cooperate with each other in action and
the number of segments solely depends on the species of animal. It is noteworthy that all
other higher invertebrates show metameric segmentation apart from molluscs (e.g. snail).

IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING HIGHER INVERTEBRATES

For bio-monitoring studies.
For learning names and parts of animals.
For conceptual reasons i.e. appreciating the tree of life.
To decipher the higher invertebrates that are pests to our plants and animals.
For aesthetic reasons.