1.

Phylum – Porifera (Sponges)

 The name porifera has been derived from porous body.
 Habitat: Marine
 Symmetry: asymmetrical
 Level of organization: cellular level of organisation
 Water enters through pores called Ostia and goes out through osculum via central cavity
known as spongocoel
 Spongocoel is lined by collar cells or choanocytes.
 Food intake, gaseous exchange and excretion occurs through the water transport system.
 Intracellular digestion.
 Body skeleton is made up of spongin fibres or spicules
 Reproduction:
 Sponges are hermaphrodite i.e., eggs and sperms are produced by the same individual.
 Reproduce asexually by fragmentation and sexually by the formation of gametes.
 Fertilisation is internal and the development of zygote goes through a larval stage which is
morphologically different from adult i.e. development is indirect.
 Examples: Spongilla (freshwater sponge), Euspongia (bath sponge), Sycon (Scypha)
2. Phylum – Coelenterata (cnidaria)

 The name cnidaria is derived from the cnidoblasts or cnidocytes (which contain the stinging
capsules or nematocysts) present on the tentacles and the body.
 Habitat: Aquatic, mostly marine, sessile or free-swimming,
 Symmetry: radially symmetrical and acoelomate
 Level of organization: tissue level of organisation, diploblastic
 The central gastro-vascular cavity has a single opening called hypostome, which is
surrounded by sensory tentacles.
 Cnidoblasts are used for anchorage, defense and for the capture of prey.
 Digestion is both, extracellular and intracellular
 Corals have calcium carbonate skeleton.
 Cnidarians exhibit two basic body forms called polyp and medusa.
 A polyp is a sessile and cylindrical form, e.g Hydra, Adamsia
 Medusa is an umbrella-shaped free-swimming form, e.g. Aurelia (jellyfish)
 In some coelenterates, e.g. Obelia alternation of generation (metagenesis) exist. Polyp form
produces medusae asexually and medusae produce polyp sexually
 Examples: Meandrina (Brain coral), Adamsia (Sea anemone), Gorgonia (Sea-
fan), Physalia (Portuguese man of war), Pennatula (Sea-pen)

3. Phylum – Ctenophora (sea walnuts or comb jellies)

 Habitat: Marine
 Symmetry: radially symmetrical
 Level of organization: tissue level of organisation,
 Germ layers: diploblastic (only 2, Ectoderm and endoderm)
 Coelomic cavity: acoelomate
 Eight rows of ciliated comb plates present externally.
 Comb plates help in locomotion.
 Digestion is extracellular and intracellular
 Bioluminescence is present. (the property of a living organism to emit light)
 Hermaphrodite
  Sexual reproduction, fertilisation is external with indirect development
 Examples: Ctenoplana, Pleurobrachia

4. Phylum – Platyhelminthes (flatworms)

 The name has been derived from the dorsoventrally flattened body.
 Habitat: Mostly endoparasites,
 Germ layers: triploblastic (3, Ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm)
 Symmetry: bilaterally symmetrical,
 Level of organization: organ level of organisation
 Coelomic cavity: acoelomate
 Hooks and suckers are present in parasites
 Excretion: Flame cells are present, which help in osmoregulation and excretion
 Hermaphrodite or monoecious
 Internal fertilisation and indirect development through many larval stages
 Planaria can regenerate
 Examples: Fasciola (Liver fluke), Taenia (tapeworm)

5. Phylum – Aschelminthes (Nematoda) (Roundworms)

 The name has been derived from the fact that body looks round in cross-section
 Habitat: Free-living or parasitic, aquatic or terrestrial
 Germ layers: triploblastic (3, Ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm)
 Symmetry: bilaterally symmetrical,
 Level of organization: organ level of organisation
 Coelomic cavity: pseudocoelomate, coelomic cavity is not lined by mesoderm
 Digestive system: The alimentary canal is complete and has a muscular pharynx
 Sexual dimorphism: Dioecious, females are longer than males
 Internal fertilisation with direct or indirect development
 Examples: Ascaris (roundworm), Wuchereria (Filarial worm), Ancylostoma (hookworm)

6. Phylum – Annelida
 The name has been derived from the fact that body is metamerically segmented
 Habitat: Free-living or parasitic, aquatic or terrestrial
 Germ layers: triploblastic (3, Ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm)

 Symmetry: bilaterally symmetrical.

 Level of organization: organ level of organisation.
 Coelomic cavity: True coelomic cavity
 Digestive system: The alimentary canal is complete and has a muscular pharynx
 Locomotion: Longitudinal and circular muscles help in locomotion
-Nereis, an aquatic animal has appendages called parapodia, which help in swimming
 The circulatory system: Closed circulatory system, Blood flows in blood vessels.
 Excretion: Nephridia is present for osmoregulation and excretion
 Nervous system: Paired ganglia are present, which are connected to double ventral nerve
cord by lateral nerves
 Reproduction is sexual. Nereis is dioecious, earthworm and leeches are monoecious
 Examples: Pheretima (earthworm), Nereis, Hirudinaria (bloodsucking leech)

7. Phylum – Arthropoda
  The name has been derived from the fact that the group is jointed legs.
 Largest phylum with two-thirds of all known animals.
 It contains insects.
 Germ layers: triploblastic (3, Ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm)
 Symmetry: bilaterally symmetrical,
 Level of organization: organ level of organisation
 Coelomic cavity: True coelomic cavity
 Exoskeleton: Their body is covered by chitinous exoskeleton
 Their body can be divided into three regions; head, thorax and abdomen
 Respiration: is by trachea, gills, book gills, book lungs
 The circulatory system: is open type. Blood vessels are absent.
 Digestive system: The alimentary canal is complete and has a muscular pharynx
 Statocyst or balancing organs are present
 Eyes are simple or compound
 Excretion: Malpighian tubules help in excretion
 Mostly dioecious, oviparous and fertilisation is internal
 Examples: economically important species- Bombyx (silkworm), Apis (honey bee) Vector for
diseases- mosquitoes like Anopheles, Aedes, Culex. Living fossil- Limulus (King crab)

8. Phylum – Mollusca
 It is the second largest group,
 The name has been derived from the fact that animals have soft body.
 Germ layers: triploblastic (3, Ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm)
 Symmetry: bilaterally symmetrical,
 Level of organization: organ level of organisation

 Coelomic cavity: True coelomic cavity

 Unsegmented body covered with a calcareous shell
 Distinct head, muscular foot and the visceral hump is present
 Respiratory and excretory functions are executed by feather-like gills
 The radula is a rasping organ for feeding
 They are dioecious, oviparous with indirect development
 Examples: Pila (apple snail), Octopus (devilfish), Loligo (squid), Sepia (cuttlefish),
Pinctada (pearl oyster)

9. Phylum – Echinodermata
 The name has been derived from presence of endoskeleton of calcareous ossicles. (Spiny
Derm)
 Germ layers: triploblastic (3, Ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm)
 Symmetry: Adult- radially symmetrical, larvae- bilaterally symmetrical

 Level of organization: organ level of organisation

 Coelomic cavity: True coelomic cavity
 Digestive system: It is complete. The mouth is present on the ventral side and anus on the
dorsal side
 The characteristic feature is the presence of Water vascular system, which helps in feeding,
locomotion and respiration.
 Dioecious, external fertilisation with indirect development
 Examples: Asterias (starfish), Ophiura (brittle star), Antedon (sea lily), Echinus (sea urchin)
 10. Phylum – Hemichordata

 The name has been derived from the presence of stomochord, a structure similar to the
notochord
 Germ layers: triploblastic (3, Ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm)
 Symmetry: bilaterally symmetrical,
 Level of organization: organ level of organisation
 Coelomic cavity: True coelomic cavity
 Cylindrical body with a proboscis, a collar and a long trunk
 Gills are present.
 Circulation is open type
 Excretion: Proboscis gland works as an excretory organ
 Dioecious, external fertilisation with indirect development
 Examples: Balanoglossus, Saccoglossus

11. Phylum – Chordata

 Characteristic features are a dorsal hollow nerve cord, a notochord and paired gill slits
 Germ layers: triploblastic (3, Ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm)
 Symmetry: bilaterally symmetrical
 Level of organization: organ level of organisation
 Coelomic cavity: True coelomic cavity
 Circulatory system: it is closed type
 The post-anal tail is present.
 Three subphylums come under Chordata:
1. Urochordata– notochord present only in the larval tail, e.g. Ascidia, Salpa, Doliolum
2. Cephalochordata– notochord present throughout life from head to tail,
e.g. Branchiostoma (Lancelet or amphioxus)
3. Vertebrata– Notochord is present in the embryonic stage, it gets replaced by Vertebral
Column
 Vertebrata is further divided into two divisions

a. Agnatha (without jaws): Class Cyclostomata

b. Gnathostomata (with jaws): has two Super Class:
i. Pisces (bear fins): two Classes- Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes
ii. Tetrapoda (bear limbs): four classes- Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and mammals
Class I – Cyclostomata (Circular Mouthed Fishes)

 Characterised by circular and sucking mouth without jaws

 Habitat: Marine but migrate to freshwater for spawning where they die, larvae after metamorphosis
come back to the ocean
 Ectoparasites on fishes
 Respiration: They have an elongated body with 6-15 pairs of gill slits
 Scales and fins are absent
 Cartilaginous vertebral column and cranium
 Circulation: Closed type
 Examples: Petromyzon (Lamprey), Myxine (Hagfish)

Superclass: Pisces
Class I – Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous fishes)
  Cartilaginous endoskeleton
 Habitat: They are marine animals
 The body is streamlined with mouth on the ventral side
 Respiration: Gills are without operculum
 The notochord is present throughout life
 Placoid scales are present on the skin which makes it tough
 They have backwardly directed teeth which are the modified placoid teeth
 They are strong jaws and thus are powerful predators
 Circulation: closed with two chambered heart.
 It swims constantly to avoid sinking as air bladders are absent
 Two chambered heart and poikilothermous (cold-blooded)
 Separate sexes, internal fertilisation and many are viviparous
 Claspers are present on male’s pelvic fin
 Electric organs are present in Torpedo and Trygon has poison sting
 Examples: Scoliodon (Dogfish), Trygon (Stingray), Pristis (Sawfish), Carcharodon (Great white shark)
Class II – Osteichthyes (Bony fishes)

 Streamlined body, bony endoskeleton,

 Habitat: both marine and freshwater.
 Terminal mouth
 4 pairs of gills with operculum
 Skin is covered by cycloid/ ctenoid scales
 Two chambered heart
 air bladder for buoyancy,
 Poikilothermous (cold blooded)
 Sexes are separate, oviparous, external fertilisation with direct development
 Examples: Marine- Hippocampus (Sea horse), Exocoetus (Flying fish)
Freshwater- Labeo (Rohu), Clarias (Magur), Catla (Katla)

Aquarium- Betta (Fighting Fish), Pterophyllum (Angelfish)

Superclass: Tetrapoda

Class I – Amphibia

 Amphibians can live in aquatic as well as terrestrial habitats

 Most of them have two pairs of limbs.
 Body is divisible into head and trunk. Tail may be present in some.
 The amphibian skin is moist (without scales).
 The eyes have eyelids.
 A tympanum represents the ear.
 Alimentary canal, urinary and reproductive tracts open into a common chamber called cloaca which opens
to the exterior.
 Respiration is by gills, lungs and through skin.
 The heart is three chambered (two auricles and one ventricle). These are cold-blooded animals.
 Sexes are separate.
 Fertilisation is external. They are oviparous and development is indirect.
 Examples: Bufo (Toad), Rana (Frog), Hyla (Tree frog), Salamandra (Salamander), Ichthyophis (Limbless
amphibia).

Class – Reptilia
 The class name refers to their creeping or crawling mode of locomotion.
  They are mostly terrestrial animals.
 Their body is covered by dry and cornified skin, epidermal scales or scutes.
 They do not have external ear openings.
 Tympanum represents ear. Limbs, when present, are two pairs.
 Heart is usually three-chambered, but four-chambered in crocodiles. Reptiles are poikilotherms.
 Snakes and lizards shed their scales as skin cast.
 Sexes are separate. Fertilisation is internal.
 They are oviparous and development is direct.
 Examples: Chelone (Turtle), Testudo (Tortoise), Chameleon (Tree lizard), Calotes (Garden lizard), Crocodilus
(Crocodile), Alligator (Alligator). Hemidactylus (Wall lizard), Poisonous snakes – Naja (Cobra), Bangarus
(Krait), Vipera (Viper).

Class – Aves

 The characteristic features of Aves (birds) are the presence of feathers and most of them can fly except
flightless birds (e.g., Ostrich).
 They possess beak.
 The forelimbs are modified into wings.
 The hind limbs generally have scales and are modified for walking, swimming or clasping the tree
branches.
 Skin is dry without glands except the oil gland at the base of the tail.
 Endoskeleton is fully ossified (bony) and the long bones are hollow with air cavities (pneumatic).
 Digestive system: The digestive tract of birds has additional chambers, the crop and gizzard.
 Circulation: Heart is completely four chambered. They are warm-blooded (homoiothermous) animals,
i.e., they are able to maintain a constant body temperature.
 Respiration is by lungs. Air sacs connected to lungs supplement respiration.
 Sexes are separate. Fertilisation is internal.
 They are oviparous and development is direct.
 Examples : Corvus (Crow), Columba (Pigeon), Psittacula (Parrot), Struthio (Ostrich), Pavo (Peacock),
Aptenodytes (Penguin), Neophron (Vulture).

Class – Mammalia

 Habitat: They are found in a variety of habitats – polar ice caps, deserts, mountains, forests, grasslands
and dark caves.
 Some of them have adapted to fly or live in water.
 The most unique mammalian characteristic is the presence of milk producing glands (mammary glands)
by which the young ones are nourished.
 They have two pairs of limbs, adapted for walking, running, climbing, burrowing, swimming or flying,
 The skin of mammals is unique in possessing hair.
 External ears or pinnae are present.
 Different types of teeth are present in the jaw.
 Circulation: Heart is four chambered. They are homoiothermous.
 Respiration is by lungs.
 Sexes are separate and fertilisation is internal.
 They are viviparous with few exceptions and development is direct.
 Examples: Oviparous-Ornithorhynchus (Platypus); Viviparous - Macropus (Kangaroo), Pteropus (Flying
fox), Camelus (Camel), Macaca (Monkey), Rattus (Rat), Canis (Dog), Felis (Cat), Elephas (Elephant), Equus
(Horse), Delphinus (Common dolphin), Balaenoptera (Blue whale), Panthera tigris (Tiger), Panthera leo
(Lion).