Animal Evolution and Adaptation NWI-BP004C-2024-KW1-V
Animal Evolution and Adaptation
Course coordinator: Juriaan Metz, practical coordinator: Quinte Geessinck
Reading tip: Your inner fish
Disclaimer: All information is derived from the lectures, the online modules, quizzes and the book by
Campbell: Biology, a global approach (11th and 12th edition). Course followed in semester 1 2024-
2025.
Table of contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 3
Scientific terminology .......................................................................................................................... 3
Anatomy .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Phylogenetic trees ............................................................................................................................... 4
L1 Classification ................................................................................................................................... 6
What is an animal? .......................................................................................................................... 7
Body plans ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Darwin ............................................................................................................................................... 10
L2 Unicellular vs multicellular............................................................................................................ 12
Protists ........................................................................................................................................... 12
Phylum Porifera = sponges ............................................................................................................ 14
L3: Radial vs bilaterial symmetry ....................................................................................................... 17
Symmetry ...................................................................................................................................... 17
Cnidaria.......................................................................................................................................... 18
Ctenophora .................................................................................................................................... 21
Platyhelminthes ............................................................................................................................. 22
L4: Coelom formation and segmentation .......................................................................................... 25
Acoela ............................................................................................................................................ 26
Nematoda ...................................................................................................................................... 27
Annelida......................................................................................................................................... 28
L5: Lophotrochozoa = superphylum .................................................................................................. 33
Rotifera .......................................................................................................................................... 33
Ectoprocta...................................................................................................................................... 35
Brachiopoda................................................................................................................................... 35
Mollusca ........................................................................................................................................ 36
L6 Ecdysozoa - superphylum ............................................................................................................. 41
Tribolita .......................................................................................................................................... 44
,Animal Evolution and Adaptation NWI-BP004C-2024-KW1-V
Subphylum Chelicerata .................................................................................................................. 44
Myriapoda ..................................................................................................................................... 45
Pancrustacea – Crustacea and Insecta .......................................................................................... 45
L7 Deuterostomia .............................................................................................................................. 51
Echinodermata .............................................................................................................................. 51
Hemichordata ................................................................................................................................ 53
Chordata ........................................................................................................................................ 53
L9-12 Organ systems.............................................................................................................................. 66
Digestion ............................................................................................................................................ 66
How is the digestive tract different between clades? ................................................................... 66
Skeleton ............................................................................................................................................. 68
Comparison skeleton ..................................................................................................................... 70
Excretory systems .............................................................................................................................. 74
Comparison between clades ......................................................................................................... 75
Respiration......................................................................................................................................... 77
Comparison between clades ......................................................................................................... 77
Circulation.......................................................................................................................................... 78
Comparison between clades ......................................................................................................... 79
Humans.................................................................................................................................................. 80
, Animal Evolution and Adaptation NWI-BP004C-2024-KW1-V
Introduction
Learning goals
- Evolution: comparative morphology/anatomy of main groups of animals
- Adaptation: adaptations of body plans to life in water, on land an in air -> form = function
- Describe the distinguishing characteristics of the major animal clades;
- Understand the evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships among and between different
animal groups;
- Describe structure-function relationships of the major animal clades at the organ, tissue and
cellular level;
- Compare and contrast the adaptations required for living in interaction with a specific
environment;
- Develop the ability to perform directed dissections and independent study of animal
specimens representative of major phyla or classes
pseudo
Scientific terminology
Evolution is the biological concept that refers to the process of change in all forms of life over
successive generations.
Animal Evolution and Adaptation
Course coordinator: Juriaan Metz, practical coordinator: Quinte Geessinck
Reading tip: Your inner fish
Disclaimer: All information is derived from the lectures, the online modules, quizzes and the book by
Campbell: Biology, a global approach (11th and 12th edition). Course followed in semester 1 2024-
2025.
Table of contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 3
Scientific terminology .......................................................................................................................... 3
Anatomy .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Phylogenetic trees ............................................................................................................................... 4
L1 Classification ................................................................................................................................... 6
What is an animal? .......................................................................................................................... 7
Body plans ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Darwin ............................................................................................................................................... 10
L2 Unicellular vs multicellular............................................................................................................ 12
Protists ........................................................................................................................................... 12
Phylum Porifera = sponges ............................................................................................................ 14
L3: Radial vs bilaterial symmetry ....................................................................................................... 17
Symmetry ...................................................................................................................................... 17
Cnidaria.......................................................................................................................................... 18
Ctenophora .................................................................................................................................... 21
Platyhelminthes ............................................................................................................................. 22
L4: Coelom formation and segmentation .......................................................................................... 25
Acoela ............................................................................................................................................ 26
Nematoda ...................................................................................................................................... 27
Annelida......................................................................................................................................... 28
L5: Lophotrochozoa = superphylum .................................................................................................. 33
Rotifera .......................................................................................................................................... 33
Ectoprocta...................................................................................................................................... 35
Brachiopoda................................................................................................................................... 35
Mollusca ........................................................................................................................................ 36
L6 Ecdysozoa - superphylum ............................................................................................................. 41
Tribolita .......................................................................................................................................... 44
,Animal Evolution and Adaptation NWI-BP004C-2024-KW1-V
Subphylum Chelicerata .................................................................................................................. 44
Myriapoda ..................................................................................................................................... 45
Pancrustacea – Crustacea and Insecta .......................................................................................... 45
L7 Deuterostomia .............................................................................................................................. 51
Echinodermata .............................................................................................................................. 51
Hemichordata ................................................................................................................................ 53
Chordata ........................................................................................................................................ 53
L9-12 Organ systems.............................................................................................................................. 66
Digestion ............................................................................................................................................ 66
How is the digestive tract different between clades? ................................................................... 66
Skeleton ............................................................................................................................................. 68
Comparison skeleton ..................................................................................................................... 70
Excretory systems .............................................................................................................................. 74
Comparison between clades ......................................................................................................... 75
Respiration......................................................................................................................................... 77
Comparison between clades ......................................................................................................... 77
Circulation.......................................................................................................................................... 78
Comparison between clades ......................................................................................................... 79
Humans.................................................................................................................................................. 80
, Animal Evolution and Adaptation NWI-BP004C-2024-KW1-V
Introduction
Learning goals
- Evolution: comparative morphology/anatomy of main groups of animals
- Adaptation: adaptations of body plans to life in water, on land an in air -> form = function
- Describe the distinguishing characteristics of the major animal clades;
- Understand the evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships among and between different
animal groups;
- Describe structure-function relationships of the major animal clades at the organ, tissue and
cellular level;
- Compare and contrast the adaptations required for living in interaction with a specific
environment;
- Develop the ability to perform directed dissections and independent study of animal
specimens representative of major phyla or classes
pseudo
Scientific terminology
Evolution is the biological concept that refers to the process of change in all forms of life over
successive generations.
