Zoomorphology

Phylum comprising simple, aquatic, radially symmetric animals with innumerable poisonous stingers. Cnidaria

Phylum comprising soft-bodied animals, often bearing a hard shell. Mollusca

Phylum comprising limbless animals with segmented bodies. Annelida

Phylum comprising animals with many limbs, hard shells, and segmented bodies. Arthropoda

Phylum comprising aquatic animals who have secondarily evolved radial symmetry in their adult forms. Echinodermata

Phylum comprising animals with five distinct synapomorphies. Chordata

Class of cnidarians that includes smaller sea jellies. Hydrozoa

Class of cnidarians that includes larger sea jellies. Scyphozoa

Class of cnidarians that includes stalked sea jellies. Staurozoa

Class of cnidarians that includes cube-shaped sea jellies. Cubozoa

Class of cnidarians that includes corals and sea anemones. Anthozoa

Class of cnidarians that includes microscopic parasites. Myxozoa

Class of molluscs that includes snails and slugs. Gastropoda

Class of molluscs that includes squids, octopi, cuttlefish and nautiluses. Cephalopoda

Class of molluscs that includes tusk shells. Scaphopoda

Class of molluscs that includes clams, mussels and oysters. Bivalvia

Class of molluscs completely lacking a shell. Aplacophora

Class of molluscs with a single shell plate. Monoplacophora

Class of molluscs that includes chitons. Polyplacophora

Class of annelids that includes bristleworms. Polychaeta

Class of annelids that includes earthworms and leeches. Clitellata

Subclass of clitellata that includes earthworms. Oligochaeta

Subclass of clitellata that includes leeches. Hirudinea

Subphylum of arthropoda that includes six-legged animals. Hexapoda

Sybphylum of arthropoda that includes animals with specialised appendages before the mouth, often modified into pincers or venomous fangs. Chelicerata

Subphylum of arthropoda that includes animals that often possess a shell fortified with calcium. Crustacea

Sybphylum of arthropoda that includes animals with many legs. Myriapoda

Extinct subphylum of arthropoda with an extensive fossil record. Trilobita

Class of hexapoda that includes animals without wings and internal mouthparts. Entognatha

Class of hexapoda that includes animals with external mouthparts, and often wings. Insecta

Class of chelicerata that includes horseshoe crabs. Merostomata

Class of chelicerata that includes sea spiders. Pycnogonida

Class of chelicerata that includes spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites. Arachnida

Class of crustacea that includes very small, often planktonic animals. Oligostraca

Class of crustacea that includes animals with long, annelid-like bodies. Xenocarida

Class of crustacea that includes copepods, isopods, decapods, etc. Vericrustacea

Class of myriapoda that includes centipedes. Chilopoda

Class of myriapoda that includes millipedes. Diplopoda

Class of myriapoda that includes animals with 12 segments. Pauropoda

Class of myriapoda that includes animals with 14 segments. Symphyla

Class of echinodermata that includes sea stars. Asteroidea

Class of echinodermata that includes brittle stars. Ophiuroidea

Class of echinodermata that includes sea urchins. Echinoidea

Class of echinodermata that includes sea lillies. Crinoidea

Class of echinodermata that includes sea cucumbers. Holothuroidea

Subphylum of chordata that includes tunicates. Urochordata

Subphylum of chordata that inlcudes lancelets. Cephalochordata

Subphylum of chordata that includes animals with a backbone. Vertebrata

Class of vertebrates (fish) that includes hagfishes. Myxini

Class of vertebrates (fish) that includes lampreys. Petromyzontida

Jawless fishes. Cyclostomata

Class of vertebrates (fish) that includes animals with a cartilaginous skeleton. Chondrichthyes

Class of vertebrates (fish) that includes ray-finned fishes. Actinopterygii

Class of vertebrates (fish) that includes lobe-finned fishes. Sarcopterygii

Bony fishes. Osteichthyes

Class of vertebrates that includes animals adapted to move on land, but still dependent on water. Amphibia

Order of amphibians that includes frogs and toads. Anura

Order of amphibians that includes salamanders. Urodela

Order of amphibians that includes caecilians. Gymnophiona

Class of vertebrates that includes birds. Aves

Group of birds with an archosaur-like palate and poorly developed flight muscles. Paleognatha

Group of birds with a flexible palate and strong flight muscles. Neognatha

Class of vertebrates that includes animals that feed their offspring with nutritious skin secretions. Mammalia

Group of mammals that lay eggs. Prototheria

Group of mammals that rear their young in a pouch. Metatheria

Group of mammals with long pregnancies and highly precocious offspring. Eutheria

Group of vertebrates dependent on water for reproduction. Anamnia

Group of vertebrates that create an "aquarium" for their developing offspring. Amniota

The pattern of possessing a single plane or axis of symmetry. Bilateral symmetry

The pattern of possessing mutliples planes or axes of symmetry. Radial symmetry

Group of animals characterised by spiral cell cleavage. Protostomia

Group of animals characterised by radial cell cleavage. Deuterostomia

Animal in an early stage of embryonic development, after the fertilized egg has cleaved only a few times. Blastula

Hole in the blastula that develops into the mouth or anus. Blastopore

Germ layer that develops into the epidermis and nervous system. Ectoderm

Germ layer that develops into the gastrointestinal tract and associated organs. Endoderm

Germ layer that develops into muscles, bone, cartilage, dermis, circulatory system and the wall of the coelom. Mesoderm

Subgroup of protostomia that includes animals with a ring of ciliated tentacles around the mouth, as well as free-swimming larvae with bands of cilia. Lophotrochozoa

Subgroup of protostomia that includes animals that molt. Ecdysozoa

Free-"swimming" type of cnidarian. Medusa

Sessile type of cnidarian. Polyp

Jelly-like substance serving to give stability to the bodies of cnidarians. Mesoglea

Outer skin layer. Epidermis

Special cell possessed by cnidarians containing nematocysts. Cnidocyte

Organelle inside a cnidocyte containing a stinging toxin. Nematocyst

A type of pseudo-muscle cells possessed by cnidarians. Epitheliomuscular cell

Inner cell layer in the body cavity of cnidarians. Gastrodermis

Body cavity of cnidarians where food is digested. Gastrovascular cavity

Decentralized nerve net possessed by cnidarians. Plexus

Light-detecting cell ensemble possessed by cnidarians. Rhopalia

Cell ensemble that provides a sense of balance. Statocyst

Dividing wall between two organs or cavities. Septum

Small, simple eye. Ocellus

Free-swimming larval form of cnidarians. Planula

Body cavity surrounding organs. Coelom

Rasping "tongue" present in many molluscs. Radula

Organ that produces gametes and sex hormones. Gonad

Sheath of skin that protects the visceral mass in molluscs. Mantle

Cavity that contains the anus and gills in molluscs. Mantle cavity

Organ that filters metabolic waste in molluscs and annelids. Nephridium

Secondary larval stage in molluscs. Veliger

The gill of gastropods. Ctenidium

The process by which a gastropod's interior rotates 180 degrees so that the mantle cavity lies in an anterior position. Torsion

The process by which a gastropod's shell develops. Coiling

A centralized knot of nerve cells. Ganglion

Tube leading into the body in bivalves and tunicates. Incurrent siphon

Tube leading out of the body in bivalves and tunicates. Excurrent siphon

Muscles used to close a bivalve's shell. Adductor

Sac containing the heart. Pericardium

Chamber that pumps blood out of the heart. Ventricle

Chamber through which blood enters the heart. Atrium

Internal "shell" in squids. Pen

Internal "shell" in cuttlefish. Cuttlebone

A sac or cavity in an organ or tissue. Sinus

Body segment. Metamere

Circular ring marking the division between body segments. Annuli

Tiny bristle. Setae

Girdle-like reproductive organ possessed by some annelids. Clitellum

Part of the throat behind the mouth. Pharynx

Extremity bearing bristles in some annelids. Parapodium

First body segment in annelids. Prostomium

Second body segment in annelids, bearing the mouth. Peristomium

Last body segment in annelids, bearing the anus. Pygidium

Slender gripping or feeding appendage. Cirrus

Tough but flexible outer covering of an organism, secreted by the epidermis. Cuticle

Muscle used to extend a body segment in annelids. Circular muscle

Muscle used to contract a body segment in annelids. Longitudinal muscle

Space in the throat used to store food. Crop

Muscular pre-stomach used to grind food. Gizzard

Ciliated sensory organ possessed by annelids. Nuchal organ

Skeleton on the outside of the body. Exoskeleton

Skeleton on the inside of the body. Endoskeleton

Material of which the shells of arthropods is composed. Chitin

Fusion of segments that forms a functional unit. Tagma

An unbranched appendage. Uniramous

A two-branched appendage. Biramous

An appendage used for handling food, from which the chelicerates get their name. Chelicerae

The process of molting. Ecdysis

Cuticle-lined tubes used for gas exchange by terrestrial arthropods. Trachea

Hole that leads into the trachea. Spiracle

Mouthpart used for feeling for food. Palp

Organ used to excrete metabolic waste in arthropods. Malpighian tubule

"Without metamorphosis". Ametabolous

"Gradual metamorphosis". Hemimetabolous

"With complete metamorphosis". Holometabolous

Nutrient-distributing bodily fuild in invertebrates. Hemolymph

Blind-ending sac in the digestive system. Caeca

Mouthparts used for tasting and manipulating food in some arthropods, notably crustaceans. Maxilla

Pore for absorbing and releasing water on the aboral side of an echinoderm. Madreporite

Tiny pincer on the outside of an echinoderm. Pedicellaria

System of prividing an echinoderm's body with stability by absorbing the surrounding sea water. Water-vascular system

Small, water-filled sac used to inflate an echinoderm's tube foot with water. Ampulla

Small bone that makes up a net-like skeleton, notably in echinoderms. Ossicle

Stomach that a sea star can extrude to digest prey outside its own body. Cardiac stomach

Internal stomach in a sea star. Pyloric stomach

The shell of a sea urchin. Test

Body part that forms the mouthparts of sea urchins. Aristotle's lantern

Posterior opening for both waste excretion and reproduction. Cloaca

Projection of the coelom in sea stars that performs gas exchange and waste removal. Papula

Filament extruded by sea cucumbers to distract and entangle predators. Cuvierian tubule

Flexible rod that provides a chordate's body with stability. Notochord

Nerve chord possessed by all chordates. Dorsal tubular nerve chord

Slits present in chordates originally used for filter feeding, but modified to serve many different purposes in different species. Pharyngeal slits

Organ that assists chordates in filter feeding, and has been modified into the thyroid in vertebrates. Endostyle

Extremity used for locomotion in aquatic chordates, and serves many smaller purposes in terrestrial ones. Postanal tail

Bone segment surrounding the notochord of vertebrates. Vertebra

The condition where the skeleton extends into only one fin on a fishes' tail. Heterocercal tail

The condition where the skeleton extends into both fins on a fishes' tail. Homocercal tail

Block of skeletal muscle present in chordates. Myomere

Teeth that are continuously replaced. Polyphyodont teeth

Gill cover present in bony fish. Operculum

Thin plate used to increase the surface area of a fishes' gills. Lamella

Fishes where the swim bladder is connected to the esophagus. Physostomous fishes

Fishes where the swim bladder is connected to an ovale that regulates the bladder's oxygen level. Physoclistous fishes

Organ used by fish to detect changes in water pressure and low-frequency vibrations. Lateral line organ

Organ used by some fishes to detect electrical currents. Ampullae of Lorenzini

Bones that some fish use to hear. Weberian ossicles

"Sharp" scales. Placoid scales

Diamond-shaped scales. Ganoid scales

Semicircular overlapping scales. Cycloid scales

Overlapping scales with small barbs. Ctenoid scales

Skin cell used for changing colour. Cromatophore

Skin layer beneath the epidermis. Dermis

Chromatophores that contain red, orange, and yellow pigments. Xanthophores

Chromatophores that contain black or brown pigments. Melanophores

Chromatophores that contain silvery, light-reflecting pigments. Iridophores

Hearing organ in arthropods and anurans. Tympanum

Warm-blooded. Endotherm

Cold-blooded. Ectotherm

Shaft of a feather. Rachis

Quill of a feather. Calamus

Branch of a feather. Barb

Smaller barb on one of the barbs of a feather. Barbule

Gland that secretes an oily substance to impregnate a bird's feathers. Uropygial gland

Growth on the sternum of a bird that serves as the attachment point for the flight muscles. Carina

Protuberance on the cranium that attaches it to the vertebral column. Occipital condyle

Voice box of a bird. Syrinx

Tubes that move air between the lungs and air sacs of birds. Parabronchi

The "front" part of the brain, enlarged in larger mammals. Cerebrum

The "hind" part of the brain, enlarged in birds. Cerebellum

Vascularised structure in the eyes of birds with an unclear purpose. Pecten

Hearing bone of birds. Columella

Muscle to make a mammal's hair stand up. Arrector pili muscle

Sweat gland that becomes functional during puberty. Apocrine sweat gland

Sweat gland that helps with thermoregulation. Eccrine sweat gland

Gland that produces sebum to lubricate the hairs of mammals. Sebaceous gland

Gland that produces a smelly substance that can serve many purposes in communication. Scent gland

Gland that produces milk. Mammary gland

Lower jaw bone of mammals. Dentary

Bone composing the jaw joint of mammals. Squamosal

Vertebrae in the neck. Cervical vertebrae

Vertebrae in the upper torso, bearing the ribs. Thoracic vertebrae

Vertebrae in the lower torso. Lumbar vertebrae

Vertebrae in the hip area. Sacral vertebrae

Vertebrae in the tail. Caudal vertebrae

Two generations of teeth. Diphyodont teeth

Teeth with many different shapes and functions in the same animal. Heterodont teeth

Teeth with all the same form and fuction in the same animal. Homodont teeth

Blind-ending sacs that perform gas exchange in the lungs of mammals. Alveoli

Muscle that pulls on the lungs of mammals to suck in air. Diaphragm

Voice box of mammals. Larynx

Outermost ear bone of mammals. Incus

Middle ear bone of mammals. Malleus

Innermost earbone of mammals. Stapes

Tube that empties the urinary bladder of mammals. Urethra

Material that makes up the feathers of birds, the hairs of mammals, etc. Keratin

The condition of laying eggs. Oviparous

The condition of giving live birth. Viviparous

The condition of having two separate sexes. Dioecious

The condition of possessing male and female sex organs in the same individual. Monoecious

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