Echinodermata

Examples of Echinodermata

Sea stars (Asteroidea)

Sea Urchin (Echinoidea)

Brittle star
(Ophiroidea)

Continued examples

Feather Star (Crinoidea)

Sea Cucumber (Holothuroidea)

Characteristic

Echinoderms and there relative have a water vascular system that branches into the tube feet used for locomotion and feeding. The radial anatomy of many species evolved secondarily from the bilateral symmetry of ancestors. A thin, bumpy , or spiny skin covers a calcareous exoskeleton.

Morphology
They don't have a brain. They have a nervous system and just react to anything and everything that happens. (ex. When you go to the doctor and he or she hits you in the knee to test your reflex. Your knee moves, well that movement is called an involuntary action)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss24TLqbCfU&feature=related

Water vascular system

-Helps with locomotion,respiration and feeding

Penta-radial body organization in adults

Embryology
The Echinodermata has three layers in its embryo. The layers are the Mesoderm, Endoderm, and Ectoderm. It uses sexual reproduction to reproduce offspring. The mouth forms first in the embryo before the anus and mouth.

Life History
Star Fish-The star fish came into existed in the Cambrian Explosion(. Since then haven't evolved much and still primitive creatures.During the 1940's sailors would cut starfish in half thinking that would help save there calms, but ended up nearly double the population by the end of the decade. It feeds on calms and sea algae.

Summary of what is an Enchinodermata They use a water vascular system They have no head or brain instead the are very primitive creature. They have five fold symmetry