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Invertebrate Guide - Echinoderms |
Feature Article
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Echinoderms (Phylum Echinodermata)
Echinoderms include the sea stars, serpent stars, sea cucumbers and urchins. There are
over 6,500 species in the group, all of these are marine and almost all of these spend
most of their life cycles on the sea floor (there are a few pelagic sea cucumbers). The
echinoderms exhibit pentamerous radial symmetry, which simply means they can be divided
into five portions and arranged around a central axis. These animals lack a head, brain
and heart. They also have what is known as a water-vascular system, which consists of
canals and in most appendages called tube feet. The water-vascular system is employed
in food collection and handling, gas exchange, sensory reception and locomotion.
To learn more about echinoderms and to see photos of rare and
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