Annelids

By: Batocabe Raquelyn S.

Cueto, Ian Roi R.
 Kingdom Animalia Phylum Annelida
Phylum Annelida segmented worms (~12,000 species)
general characteristics:
Bilaterally symmetrical, segmented worms with a true coelom
Digestive tract complete, usually with regional specializaiton
Closed circulatory system
Nervous system well developed
Marine, terrestrial, and freshwater species exist
Include earthworms, marine polychaetes, and leaches
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Characteristics

Diversity
Annelids exhibit segmentation or metamerism
Bodies composed of serially repeated units
Each unit contains components of most organ systems
Evolution of metamerism allowed much greater
complexity in structure and function
Increased burrowing efficiency
more sophisticated nervous system
Provided a safety factor
If one segment failed, others could still function
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Characteristics

Segmented worms living in marine, freshwater, and moist terrestrial habitats

Include marine bristle worms, leeches, and earthworms

Classification
Class Polychaeta (scale, fire, tube worms)
Class Oligochaeta (Eathworms)
Class Hirudinida (leeches)
Phylum Annelida
Ancestral Traits
Coelomate Spirobranchus giganteus
Lophotrochozoan- non-molting Christmas tree worm
protostomes
Protostome
Closed circulatory system
Cephalization
Derived Traits
Segmentation
Metamerism
Septa
Setae
Bristles
Myelinated neurons
~ 40K species of annelids
Systems

Integument-
Integument epidermis is one cell layer with mucous gland that secrete a moist
cuticle.
Skeletal -hydrostatic (using coelom)
Muscle-
Muscle longitudinal and circular muscles Each segments muscles are
independent of the other segments.
Digestive-
Digestive complete, complex, with absorption and digestive glands and excretory
cells.
Systems (continue)

Excretory-
Excretory a pair of nephridia per segment.
Respiratory -through skin, some through parapodia; tubeworms have gills.
Circulatory-
Circulatory closed system, use hemoglobin as oxygen carrier.
Nervous-
Nervous dorsal brain; ventral, double, solid nerve cord, with ganglia in each segment.
Endocrine-
Endocrine hormones secreted by nervous system.
Reproductive-
Reproductive
Dioecious in Polychaeta; no special organs, posterior end becomes gonads.
Monoecious in Oligochaeta and Hirudinea; Clitellium.
 Kingdom Animalia

Evolution of the coelom (body cavity):

 Kingdom Animalia Phylum Annelida

Generally speaking, annelids are a very

diverse group, particularly the marine
polychaetes which may have highly
developed appendages.
Class Polychaeta

Highly specialized head

regions
Antennae
Sensory palps
Feeding appendages
Paired extensions of body
(parapodia)
Often tube-dwelling Bispira bunnea
Burrow into substrate and secrete mucus/ sabellid worm
CO3 materials

Spirobrancheus giganteus
 Kingdom Animalia Annelid Classification

Class Polychaeta include most of the marine and freshwater annelids these
worms are often very well developed, having specialized
appendages for feeding and/or swimming called setae or
parapodia
 Polychaete Anatomy

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/909
3134/Pictures-of-the-day-20-February-2012.html
Parapodia with setae
Polychaete Reproduction

Most are dioecious-few monoecious

Some asexually but sexually more common
Trochophore larvae

Some species develop specialized

segments containing gametes
Epitokes
Segments are released and
gametes burst out
Polychaete Asexual Reproduction

Epitokes are essentially

buds
Clues to ancestral origin of segmentation
Segmentation may have been derived
from incomplete budding processes
 Typosyllis nipponica

Samoan palolo worm

Palola viridis
 Kingdom Animalia Annelid Classification

Class Oligochaeta earthworms and other similar freshwater annelids.

have no setae or parapodia
 Polychaetes and Oligochaetes

Oligochaetes differ from polychaetes

in several ways:
No parapods, fewer setae (if at all)
Hermaphroditic with sex cells produced in
a separate section
No larval stages

Giant Gippsland earthworm

18 Phylum Annelida
Setae: a.k.a. Bristles
Oligochaete Reproduction
 Oligochaete Development

For terrestrial oligochaetes, development is direct without any larval forms

Some aquatic oligochaetes retain a trochophore-like larval stage

http://www.naturewatch.ca/english/wormwatch/resources/anatomy.html
Site for earthworm anatomy:
Aquatic Oligocheates
 Kingdom Animalia Annelid Classification

Class Hirudinida leeches complex reproductive systems, hermaphroditic, most

most are freshwater or marine (a few are semi-terrestrial).
Ectoparasitic, they can be predaceous or scavenging

These animals have specialized suckers

to help them attach to their prey
They also produce anesthetics and
anticoagulation chemicals Why do you
think this is?
 Subclass Hirudinea
Defining characteristics
Posterior sucker
Predominately freshwater,
but do occur in all seas and
moist soil
Leeches do not burrow, lack
parapods and setae
Clitellum only visible
during breeding

24 Phylum Annelida
Horse leech-actually feeds
on small worms
Haemopis sanguisuga

Great Amazon Leech

Haementaria ghiliani
Subclass Hirudinea
 Leech Anatomy
Anterior sucker is small
and contains the mouth
Anterior sucker creates
a wound with saw like
jaws
Leeches drink other
animals blood, usually
vertebrates
Can be carnivores, or
scavengers; leeches are
not set in their feeding
habits

27 Phylum Annelida
Hirudo medicinalis

More leech info:

http://www.earthlife.net/inverts/hirundinae.html
 Leech Reproduction

Leeches are simultaneous

hermaphrodites that lack
a free-living larvae stage
Fertilization is internal
through copulation
Development occurs in a
cocoon similar to the
Oligochaetes

30 Phylum Annelida