Chapter 6: Invertebrate Animals

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Describe the general characteristics shared by all animals, including cell structure, nutrition, and modes of reproduction.
• Differentiate between asymmetrical, radial, and bilateral body symmetries and provide examples of animals that exhibit each type.
• Explain the basis of animal classification, including the roles of body structure and genetic evidence in determining phyla.
• Distinguish between invertebrates and vertebrates, and identify the relative diversity of each within the animal kingdom.
• Compare and contrast the major invertebrate phyla (e.g., Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda, Echinodermata), highlighting their key structural and functional traits.
• Identify the defining features of chordates, including the four key developmental characteristics, and differentiate between vertebrate and invertebrate chordates.