1 / 6

Phylum Annelida

Learn about Oligochaeta & Hirudinea classes of annelids, including characteristics, habitats, feeding habits, and reproduction. Discover fascinating facts about these segmented worms.

randyr
Download Presentation

Phylum Annelida

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Phylum Annelida Segmented Worms

  2. Class Oligochaeta (‘few bristles’)

  3. About 170 N.A. species • Each segment has small bundles of tiny chaetae • Most live in silt and mud in ponds, lakes, etc. • As deposit feeders, feces deposited atop the bottom; helps keep surface aerobic • Some are very tolerant of low oxygen; Tubifex worms are long and red; can build up very high densities (8,000/m2)

  4. Class: Hirudinea (Leaches)

  5. Leeches • Primarily aquatic (~69 species in N.A.); only a few marine • Many are highly colored (but fade in alcohol) • Body: soft, muscular, flattened; 34 segments • Two suckers: one anterior (includes the mouth), one posterior

  6. Natural History • Most live in shallow waters with much plants, debris, or stones; in suitable habitat, can reach density of 700/m2 • Move inchworm-style; many can swim • All feed on fluids from other organisms either as piercer-predator or as external parasite • Most feed on invertebrates • Blood suckers have 3-toothed jaws and secrete hirudinin, an anticoagulant; most feed on frogs, turtles, or fish • May not feed again for two years • Always reproduce sexually; some make cocoons; • Many require years to reach maturity • Are both predators and prey

More Related