A | B |
Invertebrates | Animals that lack a backbone |
Vertebrates | Animals that possess a backbone |
Spherical symmetry | An organism possesses this kind of symmetry if it can be cut into two identical halves by any cut that runs through the organism's center. |
Radial symmetry | An organism possesses this kind of symmetry if it can be cut into two identical halves by any longitudinal cut through its center. |
Bilateral symmetry | An organism possesses this kind of symmetry if it can only be cut into two identical halves by a single longitudinal cut along its center which divides it into right and left halves. |
Epidermis | An outer layer of cells designed to provide protection |
Amebocytes | Cells in a sponge that perform digestion and transport functions |
Polyp | A sessile, tubular cnidarian with a mouth and tentacles at one end and a basal disk at the other |
Medusa | A free-swimming cnidarian with a bell-shaped body and tentacles |
Mesoglea | The jelly-like substance that separates the epithelial cells in a cnidarian |
Nematocysts | Small capsules that contain a toxin which is injected into prey or predators |
Ovaries | The organ that produces eggs |
Anterior end | The end of an animal that contains its head |
Posterior end | The end of an animal that contains the tail |
Circulatory system | A system designed to transport food and other necessary substances throughout a creature's body |
Nervous system | A system of sensitive cells that respond to stimuli such as sound, touch, and taste |
Ganglia | a net of nerve cell bodies |
Regeneration | The ability to re-grow a missing part of the body |
Mantle | A sheath of tissue that encloses the vital organs of a mollusk, secretes its shell, and performs respiration |
Shell | A tough, multilayered structure secreted by the mantle. It is usually used for protection, but sometimes for body support |
Foot | A muscular organ that is used for locomotion and takes a variety of forms depending on the animal |
Radula | A organ covered with teeth that mollusks use to scrape food into their mouths |
Univalve | An organism with a single shell |
Bivalve | An organism with two shells |