NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Echinoderms are a phylum of marine invertebrates that include starfish, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sand dollars, and crinoids. They are one of the most diverse groups of marine invertebrates and play important ecological roles from the near-shore environment to the deep seas.

Detailed explanation-2: -Examples of echinoderms include sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, and feather stars (Fig. 3.83). Although they may appear very different, echinoderms all have two major defining characteristics that set them apart from all other animals: a water vascular system and five-sided radial symmetry.

Detailed explanation-3: -The phylum echinoderms is divided into five extant classes: Asteroidea (sea stars), Ophiuroidea (brittle stars), Echinoidea (sea urchins and sand dollars), Crinoidea (sea lilies or feather stars), and Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers).

Detailed explanation-4: -Echinodermata is a phylum of about 7000 living species distributed among five classes: Echinoidea (sea urchins and sand dollars), Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers), Ophiuroidea (brittle stars), Asteroidea (sea stars), and Crinoidea (feather stars and sea lilies).

Detailed explanation-5: -Echinoderms are deuterostome invertebrate animals, phylogenetically most closely related to hemichordates and to chordates. They are exclusively marine-living, with a wide range of habitats from the deep sea to the intertidal region.