ECHINODERMS: THE SPINY ANIMALS!

ECHINODERMS: THE SPINY ANIMALS!

© Jonathan Bird/ORG For educational use only The phylum Echinodermata , which contains about 6000 species, gets its name from the Greek, literally meaning "spiny skin." Many echinoderms actually do have "spiny" skin, but others do not. This phylum exists exclusively in the sea, and cannot be found on land or in fresh water. All echinoderms have one thing in common: radial symmetry. This means that the creatures have appendages (or body construction) which point outward from the center of the body like the spokes on a bicycle wheel. Furthermore, these appendages usually occur in multiples of five, although there are a few exceptions. There are several well known members of this group, like sea stars and sea urchins. The radial symmetry is obvious in these creatures.   Perhaps not as obvious is the water vascular system, another trait common to all echinoderms. By examining the oral (ventral or underside) side of a sea star, one will be able to see hundreds of tiny feet usually arranged into several rows on each ray (appendage) of the star. These are called tube feet, or podia, and are filled with sea water in most echinoderms. The water vascular system within the body of the animal is also filled with sea water. By expanding and contracting chambers within the water vascular system, the echinoderm can force water into certain tube feet to extend them. The animal has muscles in the tube feet which are used to retract them. By expanding and retracting the right tube feet in the proper order, the creature can walk. Many echinoderms can also form suckers on the ends of their tube feet. These suckers can be used to capture and hold prey, or to hold onto rocks in a swift current or tide. Interestingly, although most mature echinoderms are benthic (meaning that they live on the bottom), the larvae are usually planktonic with bilateral symmetry. During the process of maturing, the echinoderm will change its body shape from bilaterally symmetrical to radially symmetrical, and in the process, settle down on the sea floor. The Stelleroids Perhaps the most common echinoderm is the sea star. Although more well known as the star fish, sea stars are not actually fish. The scientific community prefers to reserve the term "fish" for vertebrates with fins. The subphylum Stelleroidea contains the two classes of sea stars. The class Asteroidea contains the true sea stars and sun stars. The class Ophiuroidea contains the brittle stars and basket stars. The distinction between the two classes lies in the way the arms connect with the body. Ophiuroids have a distinct central body part (called a central disk) with arms radiating out from the body. Adjacent arms do not connect with each other. Asteroids, on the other hand, have arms which seem to connect together in such a way as to make it difficult to discern where the arms end and the central disk begins. The sea star's aboral (top) surface is spiny looking when closely examined. The rumpled skin, when examined up close, contains several different types of formations. Some of the bumps on the surface are called Dermal Branchiae, which are used to absorb oxygen from the water. Another type of adaptation of the skin are called pedicellaria. These pincher-like pairs of organs can be used to pluck things off of the skin of the sea star which might otherwise cause a problem. For example, the larval form of a barnacle could settle onto a sea star and begin to grow if the sea star had no way of removing it. The single colored spot on the aboral surface of the sea star is called the madreporite (mad-ruh-PORE-ite). This is a calcareous piece of the water vascular system filled with tiny holes, like a strainer. It is the interface between the water vascular system and the ocean, acting as a filter. The sea star has a light sensitive organ at the tip of each ray, called an eyespot. When moving across the ocean floor, the sea star usually leads with one ray, probing the surface ahead. Although the star cannot see in the way we do, it can detect the presence and direction of light, and does seem to have some idea where it is headed. Sea stars are capable of regenerating limbs in the event that one or more is severed or damaged. The wound first closes off, and in time, the new limb will begin to grow. In a few species, the severed limb can regenerate a new sea star, but in most species, the severed limb dies.Sea stars eat a variety of different things, including barnacles, clams, mussels, snails, sea urchins, and in some cases, other sea stars! Many sea stars, such as the Northern Sea Star, eat mussels and clams in a fascinating way. The sea star first surrounds its intended victim. Then it applies outward force (with its suction cup equipped tube feet) on the two mussel shells (called valves), to pull them apart. Contrary to popular belief, the sea star does not need to apply force for a long time in order to tire out the mussel.

The Cushion Star, found in the Caribbean, is a classic example of an Asteroid. This basket star, photographed in the Caribbean, is a good example of a Ophiuroid. This Northern sea star, photographed in Massachusetts, is regenerating two lost arms. It will take over a year, but they will be good as new! The voracious Spiny Sun star of the North Atlantic stalks and eats other sea stars! It's an Asteroid with up to 12 arms!! This Purple sea urchin from California has hundreds of pointy spines for protection. The Orange-footed sea cucumber lives in the North Atlantic. It resembles a football with tentacles at one end for feeding. This is a view of its feathery tentacles.It catches plankton in its arms and then licks them off one at a time. The Tiger Tail sea cucumber feeds on particles found in the sand on the bottom. This sea cucumber is eviscerating a portion of its intestines to thwart an attack.