EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -An important evolutionary development in annelids, that is not obvious when you see the animal from the outside, is the presence of a well-developed coelom, or body cavity. Along with mollusks, annelids are among the first animals to have a coelom.

Detailed explanation-2: -As one of the major phyla within Lophotrochozoa, Annelida are playing an important role in deducing the developmental biology of the last common ancestor of the protostomes and deuterostomes, an animal from which >98% of all described animal species evolved.

Detailed explanation-3: -In addition to a more specialized complete digestive system, annelid worms have also evolved body features not found in flatworms or nematodes. These features appear in some form in all larger, more complex animals: a coelom, a body cavity between the digestive tube and the external body wall that is lined with tissue.

Detailed explanation-4: -Annelids include segmented worms, such as leeches and earthworms; they are the most advanced worms as they possess a true coelom.