Question

Give the distinguishing features of Annelids.

Answer 1

• The distinguishing features of Annelids are:-

1) Symmetry- They are all bilaterally symmetrical animals.

2) Coelom- The have a fluid-filled cavity between the outer body wall and the gut called the coelom.

3) Body wall- They have a body covered by an external cuticle. Chaetae (stiff bristles) are cuticular structures which contain large amounts of chitin.

4) Parapodia- are unjointed segmented extensions of the body wall found in them.

5) Sense organs- They have six major kinds of sensory structures. These include palps, antennae, eyes, statocysts, nuchal organs and lateral organs.

6) Segmentation or metamerisation- is the repetition of organs and tissues at intervals along the body of an animal thus, dividing the body into segments.