BIO 111: INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY

LECTURE 8: Phylum
ANNELIDA
Segmented
worms, ex: earth
worm, leeches
and Polychaetae
(marine) worms

By Mdoe, FP; M.Sc. Ed. (BL), B.Sc. Ed. (Hons) (BL/CH) Mob: +255 658 625 636
E-mail: mdoefp@gmail.com 1
 Characteristics

• Annelids are sometimes called

“bristle worms” because, with the
exception of leeches, most
annelids bear tiny chitinous
bristles called setae (L. seta, hair or
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Earth worms

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 Trochophore
• Trochophore, also called
trochosphere, small, translucent,
free-swimming larva characteristic
of marine annelids and most groups
of mollusks. Trochophores are
spherical or pear-shaped and are
girdled by a ring of cilia (minute
hairlike structures), the prototroch,
that enables them to swim.
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Classification of Annelida

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 1) Class Oligochaeta
(Gr., oligos =few + chaeta = setae):
1. Mostly terrestrial or some freshwater forms.
2. Body with conspicuous external and internal segmentation.
3. Distinct head, eyes and tentacles are absent.
4. Parapodia are absent.
5. Setae are usually arranged segmentally.
6. Clitellum is usually present.
7. Pharynx is not eversible and without jaws.
8. Hermaphrodite, i.e., sexes united.
9. Development is direct and takes place within cocoons secreted
by clitellum; no free larval stage. 30
The Life cycle of Earthworm Lumbricus terrestris

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 2) Class Polychaeta
(Gr., poly = many + chaeta = bristles):
Ex: Nereis, Aphrodite, Polynae, Chaetopterus, Glycera
1. Polychaeta are marine and carnivorous.

2. Body is elongated and segmented.

3. Head consists of prostomium and peristomium

and bears eyes, tentacles, cirri and palps, etc.

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4. Setae are numerous and are borne up on lateral prominences of the
body wall known as Para podia.
5. Clitellum is absent.
6. Cirri or branchiae or both may be present for respiration.
7. Coelom is spacious usually divided by inter-segmental septa.
8. Alimentary canal is provided with an eversible buccal region and
protrusible pharynx.
9. Excretory organs are segmentally paired nephridia.
10. Sexes separate, fertilisation external, free swimming larval stage
trochophore.
11. Asexual reproduction by lateral budding 33
The Life cycle of marine polychaetae worm P. dumerilii

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 3) Class Hirudinea
(L., hirudo = a leech):
1. Mostly ectoparasitic and freshwater forms, while few are marine
feeding upon fishes and other animals.
2. Body is elongated usually flattened dorsoventrally or cylindrical.
3. Body consists of definite number of segments, each segment breaks up
into 2 to 4 rings or annuli.
4. Parapodia and setae are absent.
5. Body is provided with an anterior and a posterior sucker, both situated
ventrally.
6. Mouth opens on the ventral surface in the anterior sucker, while anus
opens dorsal to the posterior sucker.
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7. Hermaphrodite, i.e., sexes united; repro­duction sexual.
8. Asexual reproduction is not known.
9. Eggs are usually laid in cocoons.
10. Development is direct without free swimming larval stage.

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 Importance of Annelids
1. Earthworms support food chains both as prey and in some regions are
important in aeration and enriching of soil.
2. They encourage the development of ecosystems by enabling water and
oxygen to penetrate the sea floor.
3. In addition to improving soil fertility
4. annelids serve humans as food and as bait.

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