Animal Diversity

ANIMAL DIVERSITY
BSc. Botany Honours UNIT – 1

2nd semester Protista, Porifera, Radiata, Acoelomates and
Utkal University Pseudocoelomates
G.E. 2.1 - Zoology
Topic To Be Discussed….
Time – 1hour (12:30pm-1:30pm)
 General Characteristics of Protozoa

 Life Cycle of Plasmodium
 General characters and canal system in Porifera
 General characters of cnidarians and Polymorphism
 General characters of Helminthes
 Life cycle of Taenisolium
 General characters of Nematohelminthes
 Parasitic adaptation
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PROTOZOA
Introduction….
 Protozoa are unicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms.
 They are either free-living or parasites. There are around 65000 species of protozoans
categorised in different groups. They lack a cell wall.
 There are many different cell organelles, that perform various tasks performed by different
organs in higher animals, e.g. mouth, anus, intestinal tract, etc.
PROTOZOA ARE A DIVERSE GROUP OF SINGLE-CELLED EUKARYOTIC ORGANISMS.
THEY EXHIBIT A VARIETY OF CHARACTERISTICS THAT DISTINGUISH THEM FROM
OTHER MICROORGANISMS. HERE ARE THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
PROTOZOA:
1. Cell Structure:
 Eukaryotic: Protozoa have a well-defined nucleus enclosed within a
nuclear membrane, along with other membrane-bound organelles like
mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus.
 Unicellular: Each protozoan organism consists of a single cell.
2. Size and Shape:
 Protozoa vary widely in size, typically ranging from 10 to 52
micrometers, though some can be larger.
 They exhibit a wide variety of shapes, including spherical, oval,
elongated, or irregular shapes.
3. Locomotion:
 Flagella: Some protozoa, like those in the group Flagellata, use one or
more whip-like structures called flagella to move.
 Cilia: Ciliates use numerous short hair-like structures called cilia for
movement.
 Pseudopodia: Amoeboids move by extending and retracting temporary
projections of their cytoplasm called pseudopodia (false feet).
 Gliding: Some protozoa exhibit a gliding type of movement without
obvious structures for locomotion.
4. Nutrition:
 Heterotrophic: Most protozoa are heterotrophic, meaning they obtain
their food by ingesting other organisms or organic matter.
 Phagocytosis: They typically engulf food particles by phagocytosis.
 Some protozoa can absorb dissolved nutrients directly through their cell
membrane.
5. Reproduction:
 Asexual Reproduction: Most protozoa reproduce asexually by
binary fission, where the cell divides into two identical cells.
Some may reproduce by budding or schizogony (multiple fission).
 Sexual Reproduction: Some protozoa also exhibit sexual
reproduction, which can involve the fusion of gametes
(conjugation) or other forms of genetic exchange.
6. Habitat:
 Protozoa are found in a wide range of habitats, including
freshwater, marine environments, and soil.
 Many are free-living, but some are parasitic and can cause
diseases in humans, animals, and plants.
7. Encystment:
 In adverse conditions, many protozoa can form cysts. Cysts are
dormant, resistant forms that can withstand harsh environmental
conditions. This process is called encystment.
 Cysts help protozoa survive until favorable conditions return,
after which they can excyst and become active again.
8. Ecological Role:
 Protozoa play a crucial role in the food web, acting as both
predators and prey.
 They help in nutrient recycling by breaking down organic
materials and releasing nutrients back into the environment.
9. Diversity:
 Protozoa are classified into several groups based on their
movement and other characteristics.
 The major groups include amoeboids (e.g., Amoeba), flagellates
(e.g., Trypanosoma), ciliates (e.g., Paramecium), and sporozoans
(e.g., Plasmodium).
10. Disease:
 Some protozoa are pathogenic and can cause diseases in humans
and other animals.
 Examples include Plasmodium (malaria), Trypanosoma (sleeping
sickness), and Entamoeba histolytica (amoebic dysentery).
LIFE CYCLE OF PLASMODIUM
 The life cycle of Plasmodium, the protozoan parasite responsible
for malaria, is complex and involves two main hosts: the human
(or other vertebrate) and the female Anopheles mosquito. The
life cycle includes several stages:
1) Human Liver Stage (Exo-erythrocytic Cycle)
2) Human Blood Stage (Erythrocytic Cycle)
3) Mosquito Stage (Sporogonic Cycle)
1. HUMAN LIVER STAGE (EXO-ERYTHROCYTIC CYCLE):
 Infection by Mosquito Bite: When an infected
Anopheles mosquito bites a human, it injects
sporozoites into the bloodstream.
 Liver Infection: The sporozoites travel to the
liver and invade hepatocytes (liver cells).
 Schizogony: Inside the liver cells, the sporozoites
multiply asexually through a process called
schizogony, forming schizonts.
 Merozoites Release: The schizonts rupture,
releasing merozoites into the bloodstream.
2. HUMAN BLOOD STAGE (ERYTHROCYTIC CYCLE):
 Invasion of Red Blood Cells (RBCs): Merozoites invade red
blood cells.
 Trophozoite Stage: Inside the RBCs, the merozoites
develop into ring-stage trophozoites.
 Schizogony: The trophozoites mature into schizonts,
which multiply to produce more merozoites.
 Rupture and Release: The infected RBCs burst, releasing
new merozoites that can invade more RBCs, continuing
the cycle.
 Gametocyte Formation: Some merozoites differentiate
into sexual forms called gametocytes (male and female)
instead of continuing the asexual cycle.
3. MOSQUITO STAGE (SPOROGONIC CYCLE):
 Ingestion by Mosquito: When another female Anopheles mosquito bites
an infected human, it ingests the gametocytes along with the blood
meal.
 Fertilization: Inside the mosquito's gut, the male and female
gametocytes fuse to form a zygote.
 Ookinete Formation: The zygote becomes a motile ookinete, which
penetrates the mosquito's gut wall.
 Oocyst Formation: The ookinete forms an oocyst under the outer lining
of the gut.Sporozoite Development: Inside the oocyst, the parasite
undergoes multiple divisions to produce numerous sporozoites.
 Release and Migration: The oocyst ruptures, releasing sporozoites that
migrate to the mosquito's salivary glands.
 Transmission: When the mosquito bites another human, the cycle begins
again with the injection of sporozoites.
SUMMARY
 Sporozoites: Infective stage injected by the
mosquito into the human bloodstream, targeting
the liver.
 Merozoites: Result from liver schizonts, they infect
RBCs.
 Trophozoites: Develop from merozoites within RBCs.
 Schizonts: Form from trophozoites and produce
more merozoites.
 Gametocytes: Sexual forms taken up by the
mosquito, leading to fertilization and formation of
new sporozoites.
GENERAL CHARACTERS AND CANAL SYSTEM IN
PORIFERA
General Characteristics of Porifera (Sponges):
1. Simple Body Organization:

 Porifera are the simplest multicellular animals, lacking true tissues and organs.
 They have a cellular level of organization with specialized cells but no distinct
tissues or organs.
2. Asymmetry:
 Most sponges are asymmetrical, although some exhibit radial symmetry.
3. Sessile Lifestyle:
 Adult sponges are sessile, meaning they are anchored to a substrate and do not
move.
4. Body Structure:
 Their bodies are porous, with numerous openings called ostia
(small pores) and one or more larger openings called oscula
(singular: osculum).
 The body wall consists of an outer layer called the
pinacoderm and an inner layer called the choanoderm, with a
gelatinous matrix (mesohyl) in between.
5. Cell Types:
 Choanocytes (collar cells): Flagellated cells that create water
currents and capture food particles.
 Pinacocytes: Flat cells that cover the exterior surface and line
the internal canals.
 Amoebocytes (archaeocytes): Mobile cells involved in
digestion, reproduction, and secretion of skeletal elements.
 Porocytes: Tubular cells that form the ostia.
6. Skeleton:
 The skeleton is composed of spicules (made of silica or calcium carbonate)
and/or spongin fibers (a form of collagen).
7. Reproduction:
 Sponges can reproduce both sexually and asexually.
 Sexual reproduction involves the production of eggs and sperm, with
fertilization occurring internally or externally.
 Asexual reproduction occurs through budding, fragmentation, or the formation
of gemmules (resistant structures that can develop into new sponges).
8. Feeding:
 Sponges are filter feeders, capturing small particles from the water that flows
through their bodies.
 Choanocytes play a crucial role in trapping and phagocytizing food particles.
9. Respiration and Excretion:
 Sponges rely on the flow of water through their bodies for gas exchange and the
removal of waste products.
CANAL SYSTEM IN PORIFERA:
 The canal system in sponges is essential for
their feeding, respiration, and excretion. It
varies among different classes of sponges
and is categorized into three main types:
1. Asconoid Canal System:

 The simplest and least common type.
 Water enters through numerous ostia into a
large central cavity called the spongocoel, lined
with choanocytes.
 Water exits through a single osculum.
 Found in small, tube-shaped sponges.
2. Syconoid Canal System:
 More complex than the asconoid type.
 The body wall is thicker and folded into radial
canals lined with choanocytes.
 Water enters through dermal ostia into
incurrent canals, passes through prosopyles
(small openings) into radial canals, and then
into the spongocoel.
 Water exits through a single osculum.
 This type increases the surface area for
filtration.
3. Leuconoid Canal System:
 The most complex and efficient type.
 The body wall is extensively folded,
creating a complex network of chambers
and canals.
 Water enters through dermal ostia into
incurrent canals, passes through
prosopyles into flagellated chambers
lined with choanocytes, and then into
excurrent canals leading to one or more
oscula.
 This system greatly increases the surface
area for filtering water and is found in
most large sponges.
SUMMARY
 Asconoid: Simple, with a single spongocoel
and osculum.
 Syconoid: Folded body wall with radial canals
leading to a spongocoel and single osculum.
 Leuconoid: Highly folded body with complex
chambers and multiple oscula, allowing for
efficient water filtration and increased
surface area.

Animal Diversity

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ANIMAL DIVERSITY

BSc. Botany Honours UNIT – 1

 General Characteristics of Protozoa

1. Simple Body Organization:

1. Asconoid Canal System:

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