What Do Know About Phylum Echinodermata? Trivia Quiz

Tube feet are small, flexible, and suction-cupped extensions of the water vascular system in echinoderms like starfish and sea urchins. They play a crucial role in locomotion, feeding, and attachment to surfaces. These structures allow echinoderms to move, capture prey, and interact with their environment effectively.

Adult echinoderms exhibit radial symmetry, typically with a five-part (pentamerous) body plan. This means their body parts are arranged around a central axis, which is a defining characteristic of the phylum Echinodermata. However, their larvae are bilaterally symmetrical.

Class Ophiuroidea includes brittle stars and basket stars, not feather stars. Feather stars belong to the Class Crinoidea. The other pairings are correct: sea stars are in Class Asteroidea, sea urchins are in Class Echinoidea, and sea cucumbers are in Class Holothuroidea.

Echinoderms possess an organ system level of organization. They have complex structures including a water vascular system for movement and feeding, a digestive system, a nervous system, and reproductive organs. This level of organization allows them to perform various functions necessary for survival.

The madreporite is a sieve-like structure on the surface of echinoderms, such as starfish, that serves as the entry point for seawater into the water vascular system. This system is crucial for locomotion, feeding, and respiration in these organisms.

The correct answer is "Spiny skin." The name "echinoderm" is derived from Latin, where "echinos" means "spiny" and "derma" means "skin." This term accurately describes the physical characteristics of echinoderms, which are marine animals with a rough, spikey, or spiny outer covering.

Echinoderms do not have tentacles used for locomotion. Instead, they use tube feet, which are part of their water vascular system, for movement. The other characteristics listed (pentameral radial symmetry, a water vascular system, an internal skeleton, and an organ system level of organization) are true diagnostic features of echinoderms.

The oral surface of most echinoderms, such as sea stars, is on the bottom side where their mouth is located. This allows them to feed effectively while moving along surfaces.

The madreporite is a small pore located on the aboral surface of a sea star or sea urchin. It acts as the entrance for water into the water vascular system, which is a network of canals and tubes that helps with locomotion, feeding, and respiration in these organisms. Water enters through the madreporite and then circulates throughout the body, allowing for the movement of tube feet and the exchange of gasses.

Starfish, or sea stars, do not have a closed circulatory system. Instead, they possess an open circulatory system where the coelomic fluid moves freely within the body cavity, helping to transport nutrients and gases. Their water vascular system, which includes the tube feet, also plays a crucial role in their movement and circulation.

Water vascular system consists of internal system of canals, tube feet(tentacle or tube-like projections of body wall), and madreporite (small opening to outside), below is the system for the sea star):
madreporite--> stone canal--> ring canal--> radial canals--> lateral canals--> ampullae--> tube feet

Adult echinoderms do not have a dorsal nerve cord. Instead, they have a decentralized nerve net. The other statements are true: echinoderms are exclusively marine, their larvae are planktonic and bilaterally symmetrical, and adult echinoderms typically exhibit pentamerous radial symmetry.

Tube feet are not part of the endoskeleton. They are part of the water vascular system, which is involved in movement, feeding, and sensory reception. The endoskeleton in echinoderms is composed of calcareous plates or ossicles, which provide structural support.

Starfish do not have an intestine like most animals do. Instead, they have a unique digestive system where their stomach extends through their mouth and into their arms. The digestive glands, located in the arms, are responsible for breaking down and absorbing nutrients from the food. This allows the starfish to extract the necessary nutrients for survival without the need for a traditional intestine.

Echinoderms have three unique characteristics that distinguish them from other animals. Firstly, they possess an endoskeleton made of ossicles, which are small, calcified plates that provide support and protection. Secondly, echinoderms have a water vascular system, a network of fluid-filled canals that helps in locomotion, respiration, and feeding. Lastly, they have tube feet, which are small, suction-cup-like structures used for movement, feeding, and attachment. These three characteristics are exclusive to echinoderms and are not found in any other group of animals.