Metazoans Flashcards
What are Metazoans?
Multicellular animals
What fossil record do metazoans dominate?
Phanerozoic (Cambrian to present)
What does multicellularity allow for?
Specialisation of cells
What are some examples of cell specialisation?
Locomotion
Respiration
Reproduction
Nutrient acquisition (feeding)
What 2 ways can metazoans be separated by embryo?
Spiralians
Radialians
What are spiralinas?
cells spiral within embryo
What are some examples of animals with Spiralians?
Molluscs and Arthropods
What are some examples of organisms with radialians embryos?
Cnidarians
Brachiopods
Bryozoans
Echinoderms
Hemichordates
What are the vast amount of metazoans?
protostomes
How are protostomes different from Deuterostomes?
Protostomes mouth develops first deuterostomes anus develops first
What are the sister groups to metazoans?
Fungi and Choanoflagellata
When are metazoans first thought to have been present?
At the base of the Cambrian but Ediacaran life has meant maybe pre-Cambrian
What are phylum porifera?
sponges
What are sponges like?
Very simplistic although some articulated specimens might have spicules made of biogenic silicon
What do sponges do?
Filter water for nutrients
What are Stromatoporoids?
sponges produced by calcium carbonate instead of silica which are now extinct but were common reef builders in Palaeozoic
What is an example of where stromatoporoids can be found?
Wren’s nest
What is included under the group Cnidarians?
Jellyfish
Sea anemones
Corals
What is the complexity of Cnidarians like?
simplest of common true metazoans (besides sponges) - few distinct tissues in radial plan
What is the mode of life for sea anemones and corals?
Attached (sessile)