Arthropoda, which seem to have a prejudice against cilia in any form
(since they include but one animal which possess any) have no example of
a ciliated larva. Even their simplest larval forms belong to a higher
type of structure, in which the shelly, jointed structure characteristic
of the group is already indicated.
When we speak, however, of the occurrence of the Trochosphere throughout
a wide range of animal life, it must be understood that its presence is
not necessarily uniform throughout a group in which it occurs. Larval
forms are adaptations which conform with the conditions of life for the
particular animal in question: and nearly related kinds of animal may be
without a larva. The Trochosphere larva is, of course, only adapted for
aquatic existence, and is necessarily absent in the case of terrestrial
forms.
TABLE OF THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM[A]
=Grade I.=--UNICELLULAR ANIMALS. PROTOZOA.
(Intermediate forms, see p. 34.)
=Grade II.=--TWO-LAYERED { SPONGES.
ANIMALS. { COELENTERATA.
=Grade III.=--THREE-LAYERED { PLATYHELMINTHES, OR FLAT-WORMS.
ANIMALS. { VERMES, THE HIGHER FORMS.
{ ARTHROPODA.
{ MOLLUSCA.
=Grade IV.=--COELOMATA, OR { BRACHIOPODA.
THREE-LAYERED ANIMALS WITH A { BRYOZOA.
BODY-CAVITY. { ECHINODERMATA.
{ TUNICATA OR ASCIDIANS. } =Chordata.=
{ VERTEBRATA. }
[A] In the subsequent tables which show the respective sub-divisions of
these chief groups, the larger only of the sub-divisions are named.
When an animal has no free larva, but quits the egg in a form
practically identical with that of the adult, the development is said to
be "direct." But changes equally startling with those displayed when a
larva develops into the adult form, may take place while the young
animal is enclosed within the egg itself. To these also zoologists apply
the axiom referred to above, that the history of the individual
summarises the history of the race. Thus, for example, the Amphibian
larva, _e.g._ the tadpole of a frog (p. 153) has gills, which disappear
in the adult form: the young reptile, bird, or mammal, which has no
larval stage, has gills during a comparatively early stage; and loses
them at a later period of its development. In each case zoologists
conclude that the animal is descended from a fish-like ancestor, which
possessed gills all its life, and that the more immediate ancestors in
the family tree, have lost their gills by degrees.
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