Ask a Teacher

Please explain the characteristics of echinodermata

Characteristics of Echinodermata

1. They have a star-like appearance and are spherical or elongated.

2. They are exclusively marine animals.

3. The organisms are spiny-skinned.

4. They exhibit organ level of organization.

5. They are triploblastic and have a coelomic cavity.

6. The skeleton is made up of calcium carbonate.

7. They have an open circulatory system.

8. They respire through gills or cloacal respiratory tree.

9. They have a simple radial nervous system and the excretory system are absent.

10. The body is unsegmented with no distinct head. The mouth is present on the ventral side while the anus is on the dorsal side.

11. The tube feet aids in locomotion.

12. They reproduce sexually through gametic fusion and asexually through regeneration. fertilization is external.

13. The development is indirect.

14. They possess the power of regeneration.

15. They have poorly developed sense organs. These include chemoreceptors, tactile organs, terminal tentacles, etc.