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Mad Lab Squad
Aquarium Investigation: Animal Features
Introduction: A basic animal investigation at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo took place during Biology lab. Our biology class was divided into small groups where we all had the task of locating invertebrates and vertebrates along with basically animal features throughout the museum. Invertebrates and vertebrates are both major groups in the Kingdom Animalia. Invertebrates are organisms that do not possess a backbone and consist of Mollusks (octopi, squid, slugs, snails, and shellfish), Annelids (worms), and insects Echinoderms (sea star, sea cucumber, sea urchin, and sand dollar), Crustaceans, Cnidarians (corals, jellyfish, sea anemone) and Arachnids. Vertebrates however, possess a backbone and consist of organisms such as Birds, Fish, Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians. Below are examples of animal features along with pictures.
The purple sea squirt have the deutersostome devolopment which is distinguished by the development of the anus form the bastopore.
Corals exhibit budding. Budding is the method of asexual reproduction which involves an outgrowth from one parent and pinch off to live indpendently.
The sea anemone has a gastrovascular cavity. It is a central cavity with one opening in the body that functions as the digestion and distribution of nutrients.
The sea star has the adaptation of tubed feet. The tube feet function in location, feeding and gas exchange underwater.
The blue sea slug have the protostome development. This is distinguished by the development of the mouth fro the blastopore.
The portuguese man of war have tentacles containing nematocyst which are stinging cells.
Invertebrate Features
The spotted spiny lobster exhibits bilateral symmetry which has a left and right side or if divided down the middle both side will look the same.
The banded coral shrimp is a filter feeder which is an organism who relies on the currents to bring forth nutrients.
Jellyfish exhibits radial symmetry where there are no right and left sides but rather mirror images.
Vertebrate Features
The Bermuda Tree frog has air breathing skin.
The Lionfish exhibits Ectothermy which is when an organism requires an external heat source to regulate its body temperature.
The alligator has dry skin and horny scales.
The Parrot fish has a swimbladder which is an air sac that enables the animal to control its buoyancy in the water.
The Spotted Sorpion fish has an operculum which is a protective bony flap that covers and protects the gills.
The Ring-tailed Lemur displays Endothermy which is when an organism can produce its own body heat.
Sharks have a cartilaginous endoskeleton.
The Flamingo has a gizzard which is
essential because bird do not have teeth.
The longtail has air sacs that imporve airflow and oxygen uptake.
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