PhylumDiscussions:

Phylum

Porifera

Cnidaria

Mollusks

Annelids

Fishes

Amphibians

BodyPlan

Asymmetrical
Choanocytes
arespecialized
cellsthatused
flagellatomove
asteady
currentofwater
throughthe
sponge
Waterleaves
throughthe
osculum(large
holeontopof
thesponge)
simple
skeletonmade
upofspiny
spicules
moment
throughsponge
providessimple
mechanismfor
feeding,
respiration,
circulation,and
excretion

radially
symmetry
centralmouth
surroundedby
numerous
tentaclesthat
extend
outwardof
body
lifecyclethat
includestwo
differentlooki
ngstages:a
polypanda
medusa
polyp:
cylindrical
bodywitharm
liketentacles,
mouthpoints
outward
medusa:has
amotile,
bellshaped
bodywiththe
mouthatthe
bottom
hasabody
wallthat
surroundsan
internalspace
calleda
gastrovascula
rcavity,where
digestion
takesplace
gastrodermis
istheinner
liningofthe
gastrovascula
rcavity
epidermisis
outerlayerof

the
muscular
foottakes
manyforms
including
flat
structures
forcrawling
spade
structures
for
burrowing,
and
tentacles
for
capturing
prey
themantle
isathin
layerof
tissuethat
covers
mostofthe
mollusk's
body
theshellis
madeof
glandsin
themantle
thatsecrete
calcium
carbonate
visceral
massholds
theinternal
organs

annelids
derived
fromLatin
word,little
ring
bodyis
dividedinto
segments
andare
separated
bysepta
(internal
walls
between
segments)
somebody
segments
cancarry
morethan
onepairof
eyes,
several
pairsof
antennae,
andother
sense
organs
theyhave
truecoelom
thatislined
with
mesoderm
flatworms
haveno
coelom
roundwor

Fishesare
aquatic
vertebrates
thatare
characteriz
edbyapair
of
fins,scales,
andgills.
Fishare
bilateral
andcontain
abackbone
Notonly
dothey
have
backbone
butthey
alsohave
smaller
bonesin
theirfins

livesin
wateras
larvaandon
landasan
adult
breathes
withlungs
asanadult,
hasmoist
skinthat
contains
mucus
glands
lacks
scalesand
claws
evolved
several
adaptations
thathelped
themliveat
leastpart
timein
water
bonesand
limbsand
limbgirdles
became
stronger
(more
efficient
movement)
lungsand
breathing
tubesallow
themto
breathe
sternum,or
breastbone,
formabony
shieldto
supportand
protect

cells
themesoglea
isthelayer
thatlies
betweentwo
tissues
(gastrodermis
and
epidermis)
thinlayer,
noncellular
membrane
thinthick,
jellylike
materialthat
containscells

Feeding

Filterfeeders,
waterpushes
particles

Paralyzeprey
andthenpulls
theypreyinto
its
mouth(gastrov
ascularcavity)
Foodenters
andleaves
thissame
place
digestsfood
outsideof
cells

mshave
pseudocoel
omthat
forms
between
the
endoderm
and
mesoderm
annelids
have
tubewithin
atube
digestive
tractthat
passes
food
throughthe
mouthto
theanus
canbe
herbivores,
carnivores,f
ilter
feeders,
detritivores,
orparasites
slugsand
snailsfeed
through
tonguesha
ped
structure
knownas
radula
herbivores
useradula
toscrape
algaeof

gettheir
foodbya
pharynx,it
canhold2
ormore
sharpjaws
thatare
usedto
attackprey,
itisalso
coveredin
mucus
worm
collects
food
particlesby
extending
itspharynx
and

internal
organs,
especially
lungs
usedtobe
huge

every
modeof
feeding:
carnivores,
herbivores,
parasites,
filter
feeders,
anddetritus
feeders
goesfrom
mouthto
esophagus
tothe
stomach
(partially
broken
down)then
tofingerlike

tadpoles
arefilter
feedersor
herbivores
eating
algae,eat
constantly
tadpoles
intestineare
filledwith
food(breaks
downhard
todigest
foods)
turninginto
adults,
feeding
apparatus
and

rocks
carnivores
usethe
radulato
drillthrough
shellsand
tearupand
swallow
preyssoft
tissue
octopiuse
sharpjaws
toeatprey
alsouse
poisons
clams,oyst
ers,and
scallops
arefilter
feeders
using
featherson
them

pressingit
againstthe
surroundin
g
sediments
other
annelids
collect
nutrientsby
filter
feeding,
theyfan
theirtube
like
burrows
andcatch
food
particlesin
amucus
bag
pharynx
pumpsfood
into
esophagus,
thenit
movesto
thecrop
whereitis
stored,and
then
throughthe
gizzard,
whereitis
groundinto
smaller
pieces,
thenfoodis
then
absorbed
farther

pouches
called
pyloric
ceca
absorb
nutrients
from
digested
food
intestine
completes
processof
digestion
and
nutrients
absorption
any
undigested
nutrientsis
exited
throughthe
anus

digestive
tractare
transformed
tostrictly
meateating
structures,
andashort
intestine
entirely
carnivores
eat
anything
theycatch
havelong
sticky
tonguesto
specialized
tocapture
insects
goesto
mouthto
esophagus
into
stomach
and
continuesto
small
intestine,
enzymes
andfoodare
absorbed
tubes
connectthe
intestinewit
organslike
theliver,
pancreas,
and
gallbladder
thatsecrete

alonginthe
intestine

Resp/Cirl
excretion

Relyon
movementof
waterthrough
theirbodiesto
carryoutbody
functions
Oxygengoes
inanddiffuses
intothecells,
thencarbon
dioxidediffuse
andarecarried
away

nutrientsare
usually
transported
throughoutthe
bodyby
diffusion
Cnidarians
respireand
eliminatethe
cellular
metabolismby
diffusion
throughtheir
bodywalls

typically
breathe
usinggills
insidetheir
mantle
cavity.
When
water
passes
throughthe
mantle
cavity,
oxygenand
carbon
dioxide
diffuseover
thesurface
ofthe
animal's
gills.
Respire
withmantle
cavitythat
islinedwith
blood
vessels.

closed
circulatory
system,
where
bloodis
contained
withina
networkof
blood
vessels
blood
circulates
throughtwo
major
vessels
thatrun
through
dorsaland
ventral

substances
thataidin
digestion
large
intestine
leadsto
large
intestine
theendof
thelarge
intestineis
calleda
cloaca,
where
eggs,urine,
wastes,and
spermexit
Mostfish
exchange
gases
through
gillslocated
oneither
sideofthe
pharynx.
Thegills
aremade
of
filaments.
Fishthat
exchange
gases
through
theirgills
dosoby
takingin
oxygenrich
waterinto
their
mouth.
Theytake
thewater
fromtheir

gas
exchange
occurs
through
throughthe
skinaswell
asgills
lungs
replacegills
when
amphibian
becomesan
adult
lungsare
reasonably
well
developed,
butnot
salamander
s
lungless
salamander
sexchange
gases
throughthin
liningof

Theoxygen
candiffuse
acrossthe
surface
becauseit
ismoist.
The
circulatory
systemis
eitheropen
orclosed.
Inopen
circulatory
system
bloodis
pumped
through
vesselsby
asimple
heart.
Oxygen
andcarbon
dioxideare
exchanged
andbackto
theheart.

gill
filaments
andafter
push
pooroxyge
nwaterout
through
openingsin
thesideof
the
pharynx.
Thegills
arehidden
beneatha
protective
bonylayer
calledthe
operculum.
Theyhave
aclosed
circulatory
systemthat
pumps
blood
aroundthe
bodyina
singleloop
usingthe
heart.Heat
hasfour
partssuch
asthe
sinus
venosus,
atrium,
ventricle,
andbulbus
arteriosus.
Thesinus
venosusis
athin
walledsac
that
collects
that
collects
bloodfrom

mouthcavity
aswellas
throughskin
circulatory
system
formsa
doubleloop
firstloop
carries
oxygenpoor
bloodfrom
theheartto
thelungs
andskin
backto
heart
second
loop
transports
oxygenrich
bloodfrom
theheartto
therestof
thebody
andoxygen
poorblood
frombody
backto
heart
hearthas
three
chambers:
leftatrium,
rightatrium,
and
ventricle
oxygen
poorblood
circulates
fromthe
bodyinto
rightatrium
oxygenrich
bloodfrom
lungsand
skinenters
leftatrium

thefishs
veins
beforeit
flowsinto
theatrium.
Itthen
entersthe
ventricle.
Mostfish
getridof
waste
throughthe
formof
ammonia.
Some
wastegoes
throughthe
gillsand
intothe
surroundin
gwater.
Someother
wasteis
moved
fromthe
kidneys.

atria
contracts,
pumping
bloodoutto
asingle,
largeblood
vesselthat
dividesand
branchesoff
intosmaller
blood
vessels
most
oxygenpoor
bloodgoes
tothelungs,
and,most
oxygenrich
bloodgoes
totherestof
thebody
some
mixingor
richand
poorblood
kidneys
thatfilter
wastesfrom
blood
urines
travels
through
tubescalled
uretersinto
cloaca
urinecanbe
passed
directlyfrom
outside,orit
maybe
temporarily
storedina
small
urinary
bladderjust
above
cloaca

Response

nonervous
systems
noresponseto
changesin
environment
doprotect
themselveswith
toxinswhen
dangerous
predatorsare
around

usesensory
cellstogain
information
fromtheir
environment
nervenet
allows
cnidariansto
detectstimuli
liketouchof
foreign
objects
nervenetis
throughoutthe
body
haveagroup
ofsensory
cellsthat
allowfor
directionof
gravitycalled
statocysts
eyespots
madeto
detectlight

nervous
systems
vary
usually
small
ganglia
rearmouth
fewnerve
cords
sense
organs
chemical
receptors
and
eyespots
sexually
byexternal
fertilization

well
developed
nervous
system
hasa
brainand
several
nervecords
have
adaptations
for
detecting
stimuli:
sensory
tentacles,
chemical
receptors,
statocysts
helpdetect
gravity,and
twoor
morepairs
ofeyes

nervoussystemsaround
samebrain
thebrain
asfish
several
well
partsto
developed
nervous
nervousand
system
sensory
olfactory
system
bulbsare
havebig
usedfor
eyesthat
senseof
canmove
smell
around
olfaction
have
cerebrum nictitating
processes membrane
senseof
thatkeeps
smell
theeyefrom
medulla
dryingout
oblongata andhealthy
controls
the
functionsof tympanic
many
membranes
internal
(eardrums)
organs
arelocated
most
onbothsides
fishesthat ofthehead
areactive
frogshavea
indaylight lateralline
sense
system,this
colors
detectswater
sense
movement
gentle
currentand
vibrations

Reproduction

sexuallyor
asexually
asinglesponge
produceseggs
andsperm
eggsare
fertilizedinside
themcalled
internal
fertilization
spermis
releasedand
thencarriedby

sexuallyor
asexually
duringasexal
reproductiom
theygroea
bumpabd
thenitcomes
offasanew
organism
duringsexual
reproduction
theyuse
external

reproduce
inmany
ways
reproduce
sexuallyby
external
fertilization
they
release
enormous
numbersof
eggsand
sperminto

sexually
eachone
iseither
maleor
female
earthworm
sand
leechesare
hermaphro
dites
rarely
fertilize
owneggs

reproduce
sexully
externally
and
internally
depending
onfish
layeggs
eggsthat
hatchoutof
moms
bodyare
ovoviviparo

havetolay
eggsin
water
because
theywilldry
outonland
male
squeezes
thefemale
andin
response
thefemale
releasesup

watercurrents
intoanother
spongethat
soonturnsinto
larva

fertilizationin
water
release
spermand
eggintowater

openwater
eggs
fertilizedin
waterand
develop
andinto
freeswimm
inglarvae
some
mollusk
shave
fertilization
insidethe
body
acoupleof
mollusks
are
hermaphro
dites

clitellum,
specialized
segments,
secretesa
mucusring
intowhich
eggsand
spermare
released
fertilization
takesplace
initsring
ringslips
offbody
intoa
cocoon

us
eggsstay
inmoms
bodyare
viviparous

to200egs
thatthe
malewill
thenfertilize
theeggs
aresticky
andjelly,
theyattach
to
underwater
plants
thenthey
forminto
embryos
thatwillturn
into
tadpoles
thatwillthen
beafrom

GermLayer

Absent

Two

yes

three

three

three

Cephalization

Absent

Absent

yes

yes

embryo

Coelom

Absent

Absent

three

yes

Early
Development

Absent

Absent

yes,very
small
conservatio
nofnerves
inhead

yes

yes

yes

EcologyofSponges:
Spongeshavemanydifferentshapesandlotsofthemarelarge.Theymakegood
habitatsforotherorganisms.Somespongesaregreenbecauseorganismsliveintheirtissue.
Theorganismsgivethespongefood,shelter,andoxygen.Thesetwohaveahugerelationwith
eachothersotheycanbothsurviveandmakegreatcoralreefs.Mostspongesareattachedto
theseafloor,butclosetothesurfacesotheycangetenoughsunlightsophotosynthesiscan
happen.Alsotheyhavespiculesthatlooklikeantennae.Thisisanadaptationthatwillhelp
photosynthesisandletthemliveinmanydifferenthabitats.


EcologyofCoral:

Coralaredistributedbytemperature,waterdepth,andlightintensity.Hardcoralrequirehigh
leveloflight,andthelightisnecessaryforthecoralsbecausetheyrelyonmutualistic
relationshipswithalgaethatcapturesolarenergy,recyclenutrients,andhelpcoralslaydown
theircalciumcarbonateskeletons.Symbiontsprovidemuchas60percentofenergycorals
need,whichallowscoralreefstoliveinwaterwithnutrients.Coralreefsaresufferingfrom
humanactivityfromchemicalfertilizers,insecticides,andindustrialpollutionthatcanpoisonthe
coralreefsorbesusceptibletootherthreats.Manysmallfishliveincoralreefs,andiftheylose
theirhometheycandie.Hightemperaturesfromcoralbleachingcanusuallykillthealgaethat
usuallyliveinthetissuesofthecoralmakingitbecomeaghostlywhiteskeletonbyleaving
behindtransparentcells.Scientistthinkthatrisingoceantemperaturescausebyglobalwarming
maybecontributingtothisproblem,sooncoralreefscouldbeinseriousdanger.

EcologyofMollusks:
Theyplaymanydifferentroles.Theyfeedonthingsandithelpscleanup.Mollusksalsoarea
hosttoothersmalleralgae.Theyaregrowingallthetime.Theirfilterfeedinghelpsthemmake
thewaterqualitybetterforotheranimals.Molluskscansoonmaybehelppreventcancer.

EcologyofAnnelids:

Thesesmallanimalshelpoursocietygreatly.Theyhavebeenknowntohelpsinceancient
Greece.Theirtunnelingthroughtheearthmakepocketsfortheoxygenthathelpsplantsand
bacteria.Theyalsobringothermineralsthataredeepinthesoiltothesurface.Earthwormsare
alsoanimportantdiettobirds,moles,skunks,snakes,andtoads.wormsarealsofoundin
trashyplacessotheycanhelpthesoilgobacktothewayitwas.

Ecologyoffish:

Fishspendmostoftheirlifeintheoceanandmovetofreshwatertobreed.Fishthatdothisare
calledanadromous.Theyliveaboutfouryearsintheoceanandthenmigratebacktotheirplace
ofbirth.Thismigrationcantakemonths.Theycantelliftheyarehomebytheirsenseofsmell.
Anotherbreedoffishiscatadromous.Theyaretheoppositeofanadromous.Theymovefrom
freshwatertooceanwateroceanwaterforbreeding.Theeggsintheoceanarecarriedbyby
thewaterandthenwhentheyhatchtheyfindtheirwaytofreshwater.

EcologyofAmphibians:

Theyhavenofeathersorfursotheymakeagoodmealforotheranimals.Amphibianshave
somethingsthoughthatkeepthemfrombeingeaten.Somehavebrightcoloredskin,skinthat
blendin,orbadtastingtoxinsoozefromtheirpores.Allofthesethingsgivewarningtoother
animalsthatareabouttoeatthem.Recentlytheamphibianpopulationhasdeclined.Scientists
arenotsurewhy,butsomeofthespicesarealmostextinct.Someofthereasonstheythinkit
mightbeisdecreasinghabitat,depletionoftheozonelayer,acidrain,waterpollution,fungal
infections,introducedaquaticpredators,andanincreasinghumanpopulation.Scientistsare
startingvolunteereffortstohelpthem.

Classcomparisons:Mollusks

Therearethreeclassesofthemollusksfamily,theyincludeGastropods,Cephalopods,
Bivalves.Gastropodsincludepondsnails,landslugs,seabutterflies,seahares,limpets,and
nudibranchs.manygastropodshaveshellsthattheyslideintowhentheyfeelthreatened,and
theyuseaharddiscontherefoottosealtheopeningtotheshell.Othergastropodsthatdont
haveshellshidefrompredatorsandwhenthreatenedcansquirtink.Manybrightlycolored
nudibranchscontaindeadlychemicalsthatcancausedeathtotheirvictims.Cephalopods
includeoctopi,squids,cuttlefishes,andnautiluses.Cephalopodshaveeightormoretentacles
thathavesuctiondiskstoholdtheirprey.SomeCephalopodssuchasnautiluseshaveupto90
tentaclesthatdon'thaveasmanysuctiondisksbuthaveamucuslikecoatingonthem.Most
modernCephalopodsonlyhavesmallinternalshellsornoshellsatall.Theonlycurrent
cephalopodwithexternalshellsarenautiluses,theyusethisshelltocontrolwaterdepthby
regulatingtheamountofgasintheshell.Bivalvesincludeclams,oysters,mussels,and
scallops,alloftheseorganismsliketostayinoneplaceforanextendedperiodoftime.Clams
liketoburrowinmudorsand,whereasmusselsusestickythreadstoattachthemselvesto
rocks.Scallopshoweverliketomovearoundandcanmoverapidlybyflappingtheirshen
threatenedbyapredator.wateriscirculatedthroughthebodycavitiesofthebivalvesbythe
cilia.thesewaterisusedbytheanimaltofindfoodparticlesthatarepickedoutbymucusonthe
cilia.Theyalsocanfindfoodparticlesinsandormudbyusingmuscularextensionsofthere
mouthandthenthewasteisexpelledoutofthemantlecavity.

Classcomparison:Annelids
Thethreeclassesofannelidsareoligochaetes,leeches,andpolychaetes.Oligochaetesare
annelidsthatusuallyonlyhaveafewsetaeandtheyliveinsoilorfreshwater.Leechesare
externalparasitesthatsuckbloodandbodyfluidsfromtheirhost.Theyliketoinhabittropical
areas.Leechesarecarnivoressotheyonlyleechontootherorganismswiththeirpowerful
suckersthatareatbothendsoftheirbodies.Polychaetesaremarineannelidsthathave
paddlelike,pairedappendagestippedwithsetae.Liketoinhabitcracksandcrevicesincoral
reefs,mud,sand,andopenwatersometimes.Thesethreeclassesareverydifferentinthatthey
inhabitdifferentareas,somefeedoffdifferentthings,andhavedifferentappearances.The
leechesinhabitahostoratropicalarea,thepolychaetesliveinwaterornearwater,andthe
oligochaetesliveindirtsorfreshwater.Leechesarecarnivorous,polychaetesandoligochaetes
areherbivores.Thoseareafewofthesignificantdifferencesintheclassbelowtheannelid
phylum.

ClassComparison:Fishes
TheclassesoffishesareJawless,Sharks,Bony.Jawlessfishhavenotrueteethorjawsand
theirskeletonsaremadeoffibersandcartilage.Theyhavenovertebraeandtheyareseparated
into2subclasses.Chondrichthyescontainsharks,rays,skates,andafewotheruncommon
fishes.Thesearetheentirelycartilagewithtoothlikescalescoveringskin.Bonyfishhave
skeletonsmadeofcalcifiedtissue,alsoknownasbone.Almostallbonyfishareingroupcalled
rayfinnedfishes.Theyareinthisgroupbecauseoftheirslenderbonyspinesandthatconnect
tothefins.Theydifferbecausetwoarefullcartilageandoneisbony.Twoofthemhavejaws
andonedoesnt.Theyareallthesameyettheydifferinsmallwaysthatmakemanydifferent
niches.

Classcomparison:Amphibians
TherearethreeclassesUrodela,Anura,andApoda.Urodelahavelongbodiesandtails,most
havehave4legsandtheyarecarnivores.Theadultsinmoistwoodsorwater.Anuraarefrogs
andtoadsthatcanjump.Frogsaremoreclosetowaterwhentoadsareinthewoodsandeven
indeserts.Apodaareleglessanimalsthatliveinwaterormoistsoil.Theyfeedonsmall
invertebratesandtheyhavefishlikescalestoo.Theseclassesaremuchdifferent:onecan
jump,onehasfishlikescalesandonehasnolegs.Otherwisetheyarepracticallythesame
genetically,butsomearemorecommonbecausetheirnicheisbiggerintheenvironmentthan
others
FishResp,Circ,andExcr
Fishesareaquaticvertebratesthatarecharacterizedbypairedfins,scales,andgills.
Fisharebilateralandcontainabackbone,butnotonlydotheyhavebackbonebuttheyalso
havesmallerbonesintheirfins.Everymodeoffeedingincludes:carnivores,herbivores,
parasites,filterfeeders,anddetritusfeeders.Theyeatfromitgoingfromthemouthto
esophagustothestomach.Then(partiallybrokendown)itgoestofingerlikepouchescalled
pyloricceca.Thenitabsorbsnutrientsfromdigestedfood.Goesthroughtheintestineand
completestheprocessofdigestionandthenutrientsabsorbsanyundigestednutrientsexited
throughtheanus.Mostfishexchangegasesthroughgillslocatedoneithersideofthepharynx.

Thegillsaremadeoffilaments.Fishthatexchangegasesthroughtheirgillsdosobytakingin
oxygenrichwaterintotheirmouth.Theytakethewaterfromtheirgillfilamentsandafterpush
pooroxygenwateroutthroughopeningsinthesideofthepharynx.Thegillsarehidden
beneathaprotectivebonylayercalledtheoperculum.Theyhaveaclosedcirculatorysystem
thatpumpsbloodaroundthebodyinasingleloopusingtheheart.Heathasfourpartssuchas
thesinusvenosus,atrium,ventricle,andbulbusarteriosus.Thesinusvenosusisathinwalled
sacthatcollectsthatcollectsbloodfromthefishsveinsbeforeitflowsintotheatrium.Itthen
enterstheventricle.Mostfishgetridofwastethroughtheformofammonia.Somewastegoes
throughthegillsandintothesurroundingwater.Someotherwasteismovedfromthe
kidneys.Theyrespondbytheirnervoussystemsaroundthebrain.Thereareseveralpartsto
nervoussystemolfactorybulbsareusedforsenseofsmell.Cerebrumprocessessenseofsmell
andcontrolsfunctionsofmanyinternalorgans.Mostfishesthatareactiveindaylightsense
colorsandsensegentlecurrentandvibrations.Theyreproducesexully,externallyandinternally
dependingonfish,theylayeggsandtheeggsthathatchoutofmomsbodyareovoviviparous,
eggsstayinmomsbodyareviviparous.

ChordatesVSInverts:

InvertsandChordatesaredifferentinmanywaysbuttheyarealsosimilarinmanyways.
Inthesethreeparagraphswewillbeexplaininghowtheyaredifferent.Chordatesareanimals
thathaveatleastonestageofitslifehaveadorsal,hollownervecord.Someofthechordates
havevertebrateswhiletheearliestversionsofchordatesdonothaveavertebrate.While
invertebrateshavenobonesorvertebrates.Chordatesevolvednewadaptationsand
appearancessuchasjawsandpairedappendages.Alsotheamazingchordateshaverapid
diversificationofspeciesastheyadapttonewconditions.Todayvertebratesmakeup96%ofall
chordateslivingtoday.Alsoover50,000speciesintheworldarechordates.Thesixliving
groupsofchordatesaretheinvertebrateschordates,fishes,amphibians,reptiles,birds,and
mammals.Thelargestgroupofchordatesarethefishesandtheytakethecrownforthelargest
chordatesbyawidemargin.Adaptiveradiationssometimesproducespeciesthataresimilarin
appearanceandbehavior,eventhoughtheyarenotcloselyrelated.

Thechordatesareatrulycomplexcreatureandhavemanyinterestingthingsthatweare
findingoutneweverysingleday.Thesecomplexcreaturescontroltheirbodytemperatureby
threeways,onebyasourceofheatforthebody,twobyawaytoconservethatheat,andthree
amethodofeliminatingexcessheatwhennecessary.Vertebratescanbeclassifiedintwo
groupsendothermsandectotherms.Ectothermsmustusethesunoranotherheatsourceto
heatuptheirbodieswhileendothermscancontrolitsbodytemperaturefromwithinitsbody.

Chordatesexplorevastlandformostofthefoodtheydevour.Theyfeedinvery
complicatedways.Somechordatesarefilterfeederswhileotherchordatessuchasvertebrates

haveskullsandteethadaptedforfeedingamuchwidervarietyoffoodsrangingfrominsectsto
largemammalsandfromleavesandfruittoseeds.Digestivesystemsofvertebrateshave
organsthatarewelladaptedfordifferentfeedinghabits.Anaquaticchordateusesitgillsfor
breathingorrespiration.landvertebrateslikemammalsandothersuselungs.Butthereare
somesuperspecialspeciesthatbreakmanyruleslikeseveralspeciesoffishsuchas
lungfisheshavebothgillsandlungs.Mostchordatesrelyonkidneystoexcretewithother
organscomposedofsmallfilteringtubesthatremovewastefromtheblood.Thefirstchordates
haveshort,tubelikeheartswithasinglepump.Vetebrateshaveadoubleloopedcirculatory
system.Theskeletalandmuscularsystemsmakeitpossibletocontroltheirmovement.
Nonvertebrateshaverelativelysimplenervoussystemswhilevertebratesareverycomplex.

Perchdissectionquestions:
1:Theperchwasshapedverythinandwithabigbody,butsmalleffectivefins.Thefinswere
shapedspeciallytocutthroughthewaterandsamewiththethinshape.
2:Togetridofcertainmaterialsororganismsthatarentwantedinthefishssystem.
3:Caudalfin:Usedforpropelling
Dorsalfin:Usedforbalance
PectoralandPelvicfin:Usedforsteering
4:Sharp,rough,andhard.Towardsthebackandsotheyprovideprotectionwithoutincreasing
theirwaterdrag.
5:2setsof2.Theyareonlyusedtosmellnottobreath.
6:Theyareveryfeatherlikewithtoughgillrakerssoitcangetwhatitwantsandremovewhatit
doesntveryeasily.
7:Alineonthetopofthefishthatsverydistinct.Allowstodetectvibrationsfrompredatorsand
prey.

1:Thefishcangrowwithoutanyinterruptions.

2:Theperchhassomanymoreeggsbecauseitlaysthemoutsideofthebodythatdoesnt
needtokeepanyspaceforyoung.

3:Tohelpitfloatorsink.

4:Togivethefishsomelightwherethereisnone.