Questions and Answers
What is Phylum Platyhelminthes known for?
What does dorsoventrally mean?
Flat shape from top to bottom.
What does triploblastic refer to?
Animals that have three layers of tissue.
What is an acoelomate?
Signup and view all the answers
What is strobilation?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines an incomplete gut?
Signup and view all the answers
What are protonephridia?
Signup and view all the answers
What does osmoregulatory mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What does monoecious mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is mesenchyme?
Signup and view all the answers
What is parenchyma?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the characteristics of Phylum Platyhelminthes?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines Class Turbellaria?
Signup and view all the answers
What are rhabdites?
Signup and view all the answers
What do adhesive glands do?
Signup and view all the answers
What are releaser glands?
Signup and view all the answers
What is locomotion in flatworms?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a protruding pharynx?
Signup and view all the answers
What are flame cells?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a nephridiopore?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a ganglion?
Signup and view all the answers
What are ocelli?
Signup and view all the answers
What are auricles?
Signup and view all the answers
What does regeneration mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is camouflage?
Signup and view all the answers
What are toxins?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines Class Monogenea?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Overview of Phylum Platyhelminthes
- Includes flatworms, which inhabit marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments.
- Characterized by a flattened body, triploblastic development, and the absence of a coelom (acoelomate).
Morphological Features
- Flatworms have a dorsoventrally flattened structure.
- Possess a gastrovascular cavity with an incomplete gut that has only one opening (mouth).
- Some members exhibit cephalization, featuring a cerebral ganglion and longitudinal nerve cords.
Reproductive and Developmental Traits
- Most species are monoecious, containing both male and female reproductive organs.
- Complex reproductive systems are common, with the ability to undergo strobilation (transverse fission).
Classifications within Platyhelminthes
Class Turbellaria
- Composed mainly of free-living species, totaling about 4,500 known types.
- Mostly found in marine and freshwater environments, many are benthic.
- Exhibit unique adaptations like rhabdites, adhesive glands, and releaser glands for survival and movement.
Specialized Structures
- Protonephridia: Excretory and osmoregulatory system features, comprising networks of tubules with flame cells to manage water balance.
- Flame Cells: Function to eliminate excess water from the organism's body.
- Nephridiopore: The opening through which waste fluids are expelled.
Sensory and Locomotion Adaptations
- Ganglia: Clusters of nerve cell bodies providing coordinated movement and sensory reception.
- Ocelli: Light-detecting structures aiding in environmental awareness.
- Auricles: Sensory projections that respond to chemicals and touch stimuli.
- Locomotion: Achieved through coordinated muscle contractions and neural control, allowing both voluntary and involuntary movements.
Environmental Interactions
- Camouflage: Structural adaptations help flatworms blend into their surroundings, increasing survival rates.
- Toxins: Some species produce harmful chemicals affecting host organisms and their immune responses.
Regeneration and Survival
- Exhibits remarkable regenerative capabilities allowing flatworms to regrow lost body parts, contributing to their survival in diverse habitats.
Class Monogenea
- Consists of small parasitic flatworms typically found on fish skin or gills, highlighting the diverse ecological roles of flatworms within their environments.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of Phylum Platyhelminthes with these flashcards. This quiz covers key terms and definitions related to flatworms, including anatomical features and developmental biology.