A first book in organic evolutionShute, D. Kerfoot (Daniel Kerfoot)
Science
A first book in organic evolution
Shute, D. Kerfoot (Daniel Kerfoot)
Evolution
Branch III.—=Cœlenterata.= Animals possessing radial symmetry. There
is no body cavity (cœlome), but there is a primitive digestive cavity
(enteron). The body consists of two layers, an ectoderm and endoderm;
between these two layers there is a mesoglœa of jelly-like consistency;
in the simplest cases there are no cells in the mesoglœa, but secondarily
endodermal cells may migrate into it. Stinging cells are generally
present.
There are two divergent types of structure. The more primitive one is the
sessile tubular hydroid, which may be compared to a gastrula furnished at
one end with a crown of tentacles surrounding the opening of the enteron,
and fixed at the opposite end. The less primitive, derived form, is the
active jellyfish (medusoid) type. The hydroid type often constructs a
calcareous skeleton known as coral. One life history may present both
types (alternation of generations). Reproduction is sexual or by budding,
in the latter case often resulting in the formation of colonies.
Class 1.—_Hydrozoa_: Hydra, Jellyfish.
Class 2.—_Actinozoa_: Sea-Anemones, Coral Polyps.
Class 3.—_Ctenophora_: Comb-Bearers.
Branch IV.—=Echinodermata.= Animals, the larvæ of which possess bilateral
symmetry, while the adults have radial symmetry. Even the adults exhibit
to a varying extent a tendency to bilateral symmetry. Lime is always
deposited in the mesodermic substance (mesenchyme). From the primitive
digestive canals of the larvæ pouches grow out to form the usually
spacious body cavity and the characteristic water vascular system. The
latter and the nervous system exhibit generally a typical five-rayed
arrangement. During development there is a distinction between mesoblast
derived from gut pouches and mesenchyme produced from migrated amœboid
cells. Complicated metamorphosis.
Class 1.—_Cystoidea._
Class 2.—_Blastoidea._
Class 3.—_Crinoidea_: Stone-lily.
Class 4.—_Asteroidea_: Star-fishes.
Class 5.—_Echinoidea_: Sea-urchins.
Class 6.—_Holothuroidea_: Sea-cucumbers.
Branch V.—=Vermes.= The term “worms” includes a “heterogeneous mob,” a
collection of classes whose relationships are poorly understood. But
they are of great zoölogical interest, for, amid the diversity, there
can be discerned affinities with Cœlenterata, Echinodermata, Arthropoda,
Mollusca, and Vertebrata. They possess a well-defined mesoderm. They
possess bilateral symmetry and have, as a rule, a head, tail, dorsal
and ventral surfaces, and right and left sides. The lower worms are
unsegmented. In the higher ones the digestive tract extends from the
head to the end of the body; a dorsal vessel is usually present above
the digestive tract; the nervous system consists of a supra-œsophageal
ganglion (brain) and a simple or more commonly double, ventral,
ganglionated cord; there is a body cavity (cœlome) lined with mesoderm;
true jointed appendages are never present.
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