Day 17 Echinodermata
Echinodermata
(Spiny Skin)
Echinoderms are the
Sea Stars
Sea Urchins
Sea Cucumbers
Echinoderm Characteristics
-Bilateral Symmetry as planktonic larvae
-Radial symmetry as adults
-Pentamerous radial symmetry
-No head, no anterior or posterior
-Instead we describe them as oral end and aboral end
-Complete digestive track
-Full coelom
-Internal skeleton (endoskeleton)
-Water Vascular system
-Tube feet
-Controlled by muscular sacs called ampullae
-Urchins and Sea Stars connect their water vascular system to the outside with a madreporite
Watch this video on the phylum echinodermata. Create a box in your sketchbook, title it "The Phylum Echinodermata" and take notes, write down interesting things that you learn from the video and include an image in your sketchbook. Make sure you understand the characteristics of echinoderms and can recognize the different classes.
Class Asteroidea (Common Name: Sea Stars)
Watch this video on sea star tube feet. Create a box in your sketchbook, title it "Sea Star Tube Feet" and write down interesting things that you learn from the video and include an image of tube feet in your sketchbook.
Watch this video about a virus that has plagued the west coast sea stars. It causes the sea stars to rip off their own rays (arms). This video also has lots of good information on sea stars so make sure you have your sketchbook out and take notes on sea stars.
Enjoy this short Johnathan Bird video about polite sea stars.
Watch how this scallop escapes a sea star attack.
Class Ophiurodea (Common Name: Brittle Stars)
Watch and enjoy this SciShow video about the brittle star. Create a box in your sketchbook, title it "Brittle Star" and write down interesting things that you learn from the video and include an image in your sketchbook.
Class Echinoidea (Common Name: Sea Urchins)
Watch and enjoy this DeepLook video about the life of a sea urchin. Create a box in your sketchbook, title it "Sea Urchin Life Cycle" and write down interesting things that you learn from the video and include an image in your sketchbook.
Sand Dollars are a type of Echinoidea
Watch and enjoy this DeepLook video about sand dollars. Create a box in your sketchbook, title it "Sand Dollars" and write down interesting things that you learn from the video and include an image in your sketchbook.
Class Holothurodea (Common Name: Sea Cucumbers)
Sea Cucumbers are filter feeders.
They use feathery looking mouth parts to filter the water.
Some species will walk along the bottom placing large amounts of sand in their mouth and eating whatever is edible in the sand. The clean sound comes out the other side of the sea cucumber. Kind of like an ocean floor vacuum.
Watch and enjoy this short video about sea cucumbers defending themselves with their intestines.
A less common class of echinodermata is the Crinoids. You are not required to know about them but they are so fascinating and beautiful, the crinoids are worth a mention.
Class Crinoidea
Common name Feather Stars
Enjoy this optional video on the beautiful and mesmerizing feather stars.