April 2024 May 2023

ZOOV111 Practical 3: Body cavity conditions of triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical worms.

Introduction
You discovered last week that cnidarians are typically radially symmetrical with two cell layers (endoderm and
ectoderm). In contrast, the Platyhelminthes, even though considered “simple”, are more complex than the Cnidaria
in that they are triploblastic (with mesoderm), bilaterally symmetrical, cephalized animals with organ systems.
Ribbon worms (Nemertea) have a very similar body designs as their flatworm relatives but have a complete gut, with
a circulatory system. Nematodes, however, have a type of body cavity, a “false cavity”, which is not completely lined
with mesoderm. One of the effects of a body cavity is that nematodes are dependent on a hydrostatic skeleton to
achieve locomotion. This requires a body cavity that is under great pressure, which complicates both ingestion and
egestion. Annelid worms are considered the most advanced of the worm forms being triploblastic coelomates. The
problems experienced by nematodes and a hydrostatic skeleton are partly solved through a characteristic unique to
annelids, which is metameric (or repeated) segmentation. In this week’s practical we will compare the different body
cavity conditions among triploblastic “worms” with bilateral symmetry.

Task 1 (MOODLE)
Examine the slides labelled A, B & C
1.1 Identify the phylum to which these animals belong. (1)
1.2 List the class for A, B and C. (3)
1.3 Identify the life style for each e.g. endo-/ecto-parasite, free-living). (3)

Task 2 (BOOK)
Study the slides of cross-sections of specimens D, E and F.
2.1 Which of these specimens display the following body cavity condition:
i. Pseudocoelomate (1)
ii. Acoelomate (1)
iii. Coelomate (1)
2.2 Use line drawings to explain the differences among these body conditions. (10)

Task 3 (MOODLE)
Examine the specimen labelled G.
3.1 Identify the phylum to which this animal belongs. (1)
3.2 Does this animal have a) gastrovascular cavity or b) a through-gut? (1)

Task 4 (MOODLE)
Examine the specimens labelled H.
4.1 Which Phylum does this animal belong to.? (1)
4.2 Why are roundworms not included under Lophotrochozoa, but rather Ecdysozoa? (1)

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 May 2023

Task 5 (MOODLE)
Study the collection of animals provided (J, K, L & M). Identify each of these animals (give their common names).
Provide also the phylum, class, body cavity condition, life style (e.g. free-living, tube-dwelling, endoparasite,
ectoparasite), and the characteristic/s feature that suggests this life style. (approx. 24x1/2=12)
Common Body
Specimen Phylum Class Subclass Lifestyle Feature(s)
name cavity
J

BOOK TOTAL: 10 Marks

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