Major Animal Phyla Characteristics
Porifera
multicellular organisms that have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate through them
Nematoda
Roundworms with a tubular digestive system. Nematodes have successfully adapted to nearly every ecosystem.
Mollusca
Invertebrates that almost always have a shell and most live in water.
Cnidaria
Consists of all aquatic, carnivorous animals that have stinging cells.
Annelida
Consists of segmented worms found worldwide such as earthworms and leaches. Mostly marine worms.
Echinodermata
Adults recognizable by their radial symmetry. All marine, bottom dwelling invertebrates.
Platyhelminthes
Flatworms, relatively simple invertebrates that have bilateral symmetry. About 20,00 speciesspecies
Arthropoda
Invertebrates animals that have an exoskeleton and segmented bodies.
Chordata
Animals possessing a notochord, a hollow dorsal nerve and have an internal skeleton