annelida

general characteristics of all animals

• all animals are eukaryotes
• all animals are heterotrophic 
• animals lack cell walls

invertabrates and vertebrates

• invertebrates do not have a backbone or a spinal column. 
• vertabrates do have backbone and spinal column
• vertebrates include humans, birds and snakes 

four features only found in chordates

• Notochord, or a rod of vacuolated cells
• Hollow nerve cord that lies dorsal to the notochord
• Pharyngeal pouches

taxonomic info.

• annelida is in the phylum kingdom
• taxonomic rank is phylum 

distinguishing characteristics

• annelida are invertabrates while some other animal groups are vertabrate 

general characteristics of annelida

• Segmented bodies.
• Bilateral symmetry.

examples

• Earthworms
• Leeches

adaptations/unique structure

• metamerism allows for greater complexity in structure and function. 
• burrowing efficiency

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