Question

Phylum + common name	Defining characteristic(s)	Additional traits (e.g. metamorphic? Reproduction? Motility?)	Example(s)
Porifera
Cnidaria
Ctenophora (comb jellies)	Ciliated comb-like plates (called ctenes); 2 long tentacles; has a complete gut; sticky colloblast cells used for capturing prey	Radial symmetry (bi-radial due to having the two long tentacles); diploblastic; hermaphrodite (releases both egg and sperm);	Comb jelly (no need to know specific one for this group)
Platyhelminthes
Rotifera
Mollusca
Annelida
Nematoda
Arthropoda
Echinodermata

Answer 1

1-Porifera:- common name -Sponges

Characters-Body with pores and canals in walls.Sponges have a water transport or canal system.

Additional traits-(hermaphrodite), i.e., eggs and sperms are produced by the same individual.Fertilisation is internal and development is indirect having a larval stage which is morphologically distinct from the adult.Sponges are mostly asymmetrical.Cellular level of organisation.

Examples-Sycon ,Euspongia, Spongilla etc.

2-Cnidaria:-common name -Coelenterata

Characters-Cnidoblasts present (for anchorage, defense and for the capturing ) which contain stinging capsules.

Additional traits-diploblastic(embryonic layers divide into ecto and endoderm).Radial symmetry(body plan).Tissue level of oraganisation.Cnidarians exhibit two basic body forms called polyp and medusa.

And Exhibit alternation of generation (Metagenesis).

Examples-Physalia, Adamsia , Pennatula , Gorgonia and Meandrina etc .

3-Playtyhelmithes:-Common name-Flatworms.

Characters-mostly endoparasites(present both human and animals ),flattened body, suckers (absorb nutrients from the host directly through their body surface),Specialised cells called flame cells help in osmoregulation and excretion.

Additional traits-bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and acoelomate animals with organ level of organisation. hemophodites.

Examples-Taenia (Tapeworm), Fasciola (Liver fluke) etc

4-Rotifera:-common name -Rotifers(wheel animals)

Characters- translucent or transparent, cylindrical animals which all have a ring of cilia around the head.Microscopic aquatic animals. Found in many freshwater environments and in moist soil, where they inhabit the thin films of water that are formed around soil particles.

Additional traits-short, direct, viviparous life cycle, both sexes are seperate , sexual reproduction.

Examples-Brachionus lyratus ,Lecane curvicornis Testudinella patina etc.

5-Mollusca:-Common name - octopus ,snails group .

Characters-second largest animal phylum.Body is covered by a calcareous shell and is unsegmented with a distinct head, muscular foot and visceral hump,The mouth contains a file-like rasping organ for feeding, called radula.

Additional traits-organ-system level of organisation. They are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and coelomate animals.Oviparous,dioecious.

Examples-Pila (Apple snail), Pinctada (Pearl oyster), Sepia (Cuttlefish), Loligo (Squid), Octopus (Devil fish

6-Annelida-Common name-Ringworms or segmented worms

Characters-body surface is distinctly marked out into segments or metameres.Lateral appendages i.e. parapodia, which help in swimming.Nephridia help in osmoregulation and excretion.

Additional traits-Organ-system level of body organisation and bilateral symmetry. They are triploblastic, metamerically segmented and coelomate animals.Closed circulatory system is present.Reproduction is sexual.

Examples-Nereis, Pheretima (Earthworm) and Hirudinaria (Blood sucking leech) etc .

7-Nematode:-Common name-Roundworms (phylum-aschelminthes)

Characters-circular in cross-section,Alimentary canal is complete with a well developed muscular pharynx. Freeliving, aquatic and terrestrial or parasitic in plants and animals.

Additional traits-organ-system level of body organisation. bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and pseudocoelomate animals.Dioecious(sex seperated).

Examples-: Ascaris (Round Worm), Wuchereria (Filaria worm), Ancylostoma (Hookworm) etc .

8-Arthropoda:-common name- also may called 1^st largest phylum( about 2/3^rd animal species) .

Characters-jointed appendages,body consists of head, thorax and abdomen , chitinious exoskeleton, a segmented body.Excretion takes place through malpighian tubules.

Additional traits-organ-system level of organisation. They are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, segmented and coelomate animals .Respiratory organs are gills, book gills, book lungs or tracheal system. Circulatory system is of open type. Sensory organs like antennae, eyes (compound and simple), statocysts or balance organs are present.

Examples-Locust , Butterfly ,Scorpion , Prawn etc.

9-Echinodermata:-common name-starfish and sea cucumber group.

Characters-presence of water vascular system which helps in locomotion, capture and transport of food and respiration.Spiny bodied.

Additional traits-organ-system level of organisation. The adult echinoderms are radially symmetrical but larvae are bilaterally symmetrical. They are triploblastic and coelomate animals. Digestive system is complete.Sexes are separate. Reproduction is sexual.

Examples-Asterias (Star fish), Echinus (Sea urchin), Antedon (Sea lily), Cucumaria (Sea cucumber) and Ophiura (Brittle star) etc.