Basis of Classification: Germ Layers, Coelom, Segmentation and Notochord

Animal Kingdom • Biology

Concept Summary

Animals can also be grouped by the number of embryonic germ layers. Diploblastic animals, such as coelenterates, have an external ectoderm and an internal endoderm, with an undifferentiated mesoglea in between. Triploblastic animals, from platyhelminthes to chordates, have a third layer, the mesoderm, between ectoderm and endoderm. The presence or absence of a cavity between body wall and gut wall is very important. A body cavity lined by mesoderm is a coelom, and animals possessing it are coelomates, for example annelids, molluscs, arthropods, echinoderms, hemichordates and chordates. In some animals the cavity is not lined by mesoderm; instead mesoderm occurs as scattered pouches between ectoderm and endoderm. This is a pseudocoelom, found in pseudocoelomates such as aschelminthes. Animals with no body cavity, such as platyhelminthes, are acoelomates. Another feature is segmentation, where the body is externally and internally divided into segments with serial repetition of at least some organs. This is metameric segmentation or metamerism, as in the earthworm. Finally, the notochord is a mesodermally derived rod-like structure formed on the dorsal side during embryonic development in some animals. Animals with a notochord are chordates; those without it are non-chordates, such as Porifera to Echinodermata.

Key Notes
  • Diploblastic: two germ layers, ectoderm and endoderm, with mesoglea between them (coelenterates).
  • Triploblastic: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm (platyhelminthes to chordates).
  • Coelom: body cavity lined by mesoderm; animals are coelomates.
  • Pseudocoelom: mesoderm present as scattered pouches between ectoderm and endoderm (aschelminthes).
  • Acoelomates have no body cavity (platyhelminthes).
  • Metamerism: serial repetition of segments and organs, first typical of annelids such as earthworm.
  • Notochord: mesodermally derived dorsal rod-like structure in embryonic development.
  • Chordates have a notochord; non-chordates do not (Porifera to Echinodermata, and Hemichordata, now placed under non-chordates).
Important Equations

Diploblastic

\[ \text{Ectoderm} + \text{Endoderm}\ (+\ \text{mesoglea}) \]

Triploblastic

\[ \text{Ectoderm} + \text{Mesoderm} + \text{Endoderm} \]
Flow Chart
Count the embryonic germ layers
Mind Map
  • Germ Layers, Coelom, Segmentation, Notochord
    • Germ layers
      • Diploblastic: coelenterates
      • Triploblastic: platyhelminthes to chordates
    • Body cavity
      • Coelomate: mesoderm-lined
      • Pseudocoelomate: mesoderm in pouches
      • Acoelomate: no cavity
    • Segmentation
      • Metamerism
      • Example: earthworm
    • Notochord
      • Present: chordates
      • Absent: non-chordates
Graphic Organiser
Feature Coelomate Pseudocoelomate Acoelomate
Body cavityPresent, lined by mesodermPresent, not lined by mesodermAbsent
MesodermForms lining of cavityScattered pouches between ectoderm and endodermNo cavity formed
ExamplesAnnelids, molluscs, arthropods, echinoderms, hemichordates, chordatesAschelminthesPlatyhelminthes