What evidence is there that echinoderms are the most advanced group of invertebrates?

1. Why are the echinoderms the most advanced of the invertebrates?
2. What makes echinoderms different from other invertebrates?
3. Why is it echinoderms is considered as one of the most valuable marine organisms?
4. Which group of invertebrates are echinoderms?
5. Why are echinoderms classified as bilateral organisms?
6. Which characteristic is entirely unique to the echinoderms?
7. What characteristic of the echinoderms makes them more like the vertebrates than all the other invertebrates?
8. What are the important evolutionary aspects of echinoderms?
9. What did echinoderms evolve from?
10. Where are most echinoderms found?
11. How are echinoderms and invertebrate related to vertebrates?
12. Are echinoderms endothermic or ectothermic?
13. Are all echinoderms invertebrates?
14. What evidence exists that supports echinoderms evolved from an ancestor with bilateral symmetry?
15. What is used to identify echinoderms as a monophyletic group?
16. Are echinoderms radial or bilateral?

Why are the echinoderms the most advanced of the invertebrates?

What evidence is there that Echinoderms are the most advanced group of invertebrates? Even without a brain, they have a nerve ring that responds to light and touch. How do the tube feet of an Echinoderm help the animal? They help the animal move by extending and withdrawing.

What makes echinoderms different from other invertebrates?

First, they all possess five-part radial symmetry around a central disk. Second, they all possess a very unique water vascular system (vascular system based on water). These unique characteristics distinguish echinoderms from other animals in the animal kingdom.

Why is it echinoderms is considered as one of the most valuable marine organisms?

Ecological Role

Echinoderms play numerous ecological roles. Sand dollars and sea cucumbers burrow into the sand, providing more oxygen at greater depths of the sea floor. This allows more organisms to live there. In addition, starfish prevent the growth of algae on coral reefs.

Which group of invertebrates are echinoderms?

Echinoderms are a phylum of marine invertebrates that include starfish, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sand dollars, and crinoids. They are one of the most diverse groups of marine invertebrates and play important ecological roles from the near-shore environment to the deep seas.

Why are echinoderms classified as bilateral organisms?

The organism was motile and bilateral in symmetry. Bilateral symmetry means the organism can be cut right down the middle and be split into two equal halves. The echinoderm ancestry later developed radial symmetry as it was thought to be more advantageous to the species.

Which characteristic is entirely unique to the echinoderms?

Echinoderms possess a unique ambulacral or water vascular system, consisting of a central ring canal and radial canals that extend along each arm. Water circulates through these structures and facilitates gaseous exchange as well as nutrition, predation, and locomotion.

What characteristic of the echinoderms makes them more like the vertebrates than all the other invertebrates?

This internal skeleton is made of plates under the skin that have spiny projections. Because of this internal skeleton, echinoderms are considered closer to vertebrates that any other invertebrate phylum. However, unlike vertebrates, echinoderms have no head or centralized nervous system.

What are the important evolutionary aspects of echinoderms?

Echinoderms evolved from animals with bilateral symmetry. Although adult echinoderms possess pentaradial, or five-sided, symmetry, echinoderm larvae are ciliated, free-swimming organisms that organize in bilateral symmetry which makes them look like embryonic chordates.

What did echinoderms evolve from?

Echinoderms evolved from bilaterally symmetric animals exhibiting fivefold radial symmetry in portions of their body at some stage of life. This pentameral symmetry is readily apparent in familiar adult starfish and sand dollars.

Where are most echinoderms found?

Most echinoderms, however, are found in reefs just lying beneath the surface of the water. No echinoderms are found in freshwater habitats or on land. This makes Echinodermata the largest animal phylum to only have ocean-based species.

How are echinoderms and invertebrate related to vertebrates?

Echinoderms are marine invertebrates. They include sea stars, sand dollars, and feather stars. ... Vertebrate chordates have a backbone, while invertebrate chordates do not. Invertebrate chordates include tunicates and lancelets; both are primitive marine organisms.

Are echinoderms endothermic or ectothermic?

Closed circulatory system, chambered heart. Endo- or Ectothermic.

Are all echinoderms invertebrates?

Echinoderms are invertebrates in Phylum Echinodermata. All of them are ocean dwellers. They can be found in marine habitats from the equator to the poles.

What evidence exists that supports echinoderms evolved from an ancestor with bilateral symmetry?

However, echinoderms evolved from an ancestor with bilateral symmetry. Evidence for this is the bilateral symmetry of their larvae. A unique feature of echinoderms is their water vascular system. This is a network of canals that extend along each body part.

What is used to identify echinoderms as a monophyletic group?

case. Along with radial symmetry and the water vascular system, this type of endoskeleton is a synapomorphy—a trait that iden- tifies echinoderms as a monophyletic group.

Are echinoderms radial or bilateral?

The echinoderms have a radially arranged, pentamerous body structure that is very different from the bilateral body structure of the related deuterostome phyla, the hemichordates and the chordates. Yet, all three phyla evolved from a common bilaterally symmetric ancestor (Eernisse & Peterson 2004; Smith et al.