Ashli & Luca Bio Experts Extraordinaire
BAMZ Animal Features Exploration
Invertebrates
Triploblastic Organism:
Possessing three germ layers: the endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. Most invertebrates except sponges have 3 germ layers. Found in organisms and the relatives of snails, worms, crustaceans, and insects.
Example: Butterfly
Protostome Development:
In animals, a developmental mode distinguished by the development of the mouth from the blastopore; often characterized by spiral cleavage and by the body cavity forming when sold masses of mesoderm split.
Example: Spider
Deuterostome Development:
In animals a development mode distinguished by the development of an anus from the blastopore, often characterizes by radial cleavage and by the body cavity forming as outpockets of mesodermal tissue. Found in organisms and the relatives of sea stars and all vertebrates.
Example: Sea Urchin
Bilateral Symmetry:
A bilateral animal that has a right and left side. All vertebrates have bilateral symmetry. Find bilateral symmetry in an invertebrate such as in the phylum Arthropods. Simply put, these organisms have a head! This is referred to as Cephalization.
Example: Lobster
Radial Symmetry:
A radial animal such as those that provide habitats for “Clown fish” display a body symmetry where there are no right and left sides but rather mirror images when an imaginary slice is taken through the central axis.
Example: Sea Cucumber
Budding:
This method of asexual reproduction involves an outgrowth from one parent and pinch off to live independently or remain attached to eventually form extensive colonies. Found in our oceans around Bermuda.
Example: Sea Anemone
Polyp:
This is opposite of a Medusa body form where motility is permitted. Some members of Phylum Cnidaria however are sessile form attached to some substrate. This body form can be found in the aquarium and all over Bermuda. These animals live symbiotically with algae!
Example: Coral
Nematocyst:
A stinging tentacles/cells found with Phylum Cnidaria. These include floating organisms around Bermuda that long tentacles that span underwater far beyond the body of this creature.
Example: Jellyfish
Filter Feeder:
Rely on currents to bring forth nutrients. These invertebrates are sessile. Phylum porifera and phylum cnidarian have filter feeders. Many can be seen in the North Rock exhibit.
Example: Sea Sponge
Tubed Feet:
One of numerous extensions of an echinoderm’s water vascular system. Tube feet function in location, feeding, and gas exchange underwater. Hint! These have the ability to regenerate.
Example: Sea Star
Vertebrates
Cartilaginous Endoskeleton:
Has a skeleton main or entirely composed of cartilage. “Chondrichythians” display this type of skeleton.
Example: Shark
Swim Bladder:
Found in aquatic “Osteichthyans” (the bony class), an air sac that enables the animal to control its buoyancy in the water.
Example: Lionfish
Operculum:
Found in aquatic “Osteichthyans”, a protective bony flap that covers and protects the gills.
Example: Barracuda
Dry skin with horny scales:
These guys once ruled the earth! Find their relatives where the protein keratin is abundant in their scales.
Example: Alligator
Displays Endothermy:
These “classes” of vertebrates have the ability to regulate their OWN body temperature. This as an organism that is warmed by heat generated by metabolism. The heat is usually used to maintain a relatively stable body temperature higher than that of the external environment.
Example: Kangaroo
Ectothermy:
The opposite on endothermy! An external heat source is required to regulate temperature in these organisms. Some of these bask in the warm sun around this time.
Example: Snake
Air sacs:
These are associated with the lungs of this flying group of vertebrates improving airflow and oxygen uptake.
Example: Parrot
Mammary Glands:
They make milk!
Example: Otter
Air Breathing Skin:
Skin... THAT YOU CAN BREATHE THROUGH!!!
Example: Toad
Gizzard:
The muscular, thick-walled part of a stomach used for grinding food, typically with grit. This structure is required because these vertebrates have no teeth.
Example: Flamingo
