Echinoderms Activity
Echinoderms Activity
Structure and Function: In multicellular organisms, the body is a system of multiple interacting subsystems. These
subsystems are groups of cells that work together to form tissues and organs that are specialized for particular
body functions.
Echinoderm comes from the Greek language meaning “spiny skin” like the spines on sea
urchins.
Echinoderms possess a unique water vascular system that works on hydraulic pressure. This is a network of (water)
fluid-‐filled canals that function in gas exchange, feeding, and secondarily in motion. This system may have allowed
echinoderms to function without gill slits. They don’t have a brain but a unique system comprises a central ring and
radial arms. The tube feet are extensions of the water vascular system, which poke through holes in the skeleton
and can be extended or contracted by the redistribution of fluid between the foot and internal sac. Evolution is the
process of change in species, such as how echinoderms changed over time. Evolution of the echinoderms explains
why this phylum has 7,000 types.
4. What happens when the arms of a sea star are joined together?
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5. What happens when the urchin is turned on its side and has a good stretch?
9. What is the name of the living relay system that coordinates movement of arm?
12. Where does the urchin’s food move to with help from its tube feet?
13. Why are sea cucumbers called vacuum cleaners of deep sea?
15. Why do its tube feet shovel sand into the sea cucumber’s mouth?
20. What is the name of the round muscles that are in the five arms?
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21. What part of the echinoderm body helps them detect food?
24. What is at the end of feet that helps sense light and darkness?
26. What part of the sea star’s body moves into body of prey?
28. What is the name of the giant sea star with up to 20 arms?
30. What process is responsible for the different forms echinoderms that all live in the ocean successfully?
Colour in the different parts of the echinoderms the starfish. Label the parts of the starfish.