Question

Give any four characters of phylum annelida.

Answer 1

Phylum Annelida

1. This phylum belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
2. These are found in water as well as terrestrial environments.

Some characteristics of phylum Annelida are mentioned below -

1. They are coelomate as they have a true body cavity or coelom which allows true organs to be packed in the body structure.
2. These are triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical and exhibit an organ-system level of body organization.
3. Their body is segmented, externally divided by grooves into segments by rings (called metamerism or annuli) and internally into compartments by septa.
4. Nephridia help in excretion.
5. Some possess parapodia (simple, unjointed lateral appendages) while some possess chitinous setae or chaetae (small bristles) for locomotion.
6. They respire through their body surface (moist skin) but some respire through gills also.
7. Example: - sea mouse (Aphrodite), earthworms (Pheretima), sand worms (Nereis) and leeches (Hirudinaria).