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Echinoderms
The phylum Echinodermata, which contains about 6,000 species, gets its name from the Greek, literally meaning "spiny skin." This phylum exists exclusively in the sea, and cannot be found on land or in fresh water. Echinoderms are a phylum of marine animals. Echinoderms are found at every ocean depth, from the intertidal zone to the abyssal zone. All echinoderms have one thing in common: radial symmetry. This means that the creatures have appendages which point outward from the center of the body like the spokes on a bicycle wheel. Echinoderms are characterized by their radial symmetry, water vascular system and internal skeleton. They have no heart, brain, nor eyes, but some brittle stars seem to have light sensitive parts on their arms. Their mouth is situated on the underside and their anus on top. Some echinoderms are carnivorous (for example starfish) others are detritus foragers (for example some sea cucumbers) or plank tonic feeders (for example basket stars). Echinoderms are protected through their spiny skins and spines. But they are still preyed upon by shells, crabs and shrimps and by other echinoderms like starfish which are carnivorous. Echinoderms have tube feet which they use to attach to objects, for protection, as well as to obtain food. Echinoderms can regenerate missing limbs, arms, spines and even intestines.
Types of Echinoderms :Echinoderms:
Purple sea urchinSea Urchin
The purple move using hydraulics. Theyhydraulics.They are greenish along the coastcaost line of Coast to Mexico. TheseMexico.These sea urchins in the ocean. Seaocean.Sea urchins are crabs, sunflower stars, snails,stars,snails, sea otters, some birds, fish,fish and people. It is classified as Kingdom Animalia and Phylum Echinodermata.
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Basket star
a nocturnal filter-feederBasket starsfilter-feeder Basket star can live of almost 6,564 ft6,564ft out but are They live alongalonbg the Pacific Sea to southernSouthern California. When eating,eating a basket brachlets around itsit's prey, forming a knot. Thisknot.This knotted arm grow to 14 cm14cm with eachech arm being larger than its body. Theseit;s body.These animals growgow very slowly. Inslowly,in the wild up to 3536 years. They weigh around 11 lbs (5 kg). 11lbs.
{basketstar-.jpg}
NeckalaceNecklace Starfish
Found in shallow water.Theywater. They feed on molluscs,mollusks, worms and detritus. They are a Small orange
{neckalace_seastar.jpg}

__phylum__
Echinoderms
The phylum Echinodermata, which contains about 6,000 species, gets its name from the Greek, literally meaning "spiny skin." This phylum exists exclusively in the sea, and cannot be found on land or in fresh water. Echinoderms are a phylum of __marine____animals__.marine animals. Echinoderms are from the __intertidal zone__intertidal zone to the abyssal zone .Allzone. All echinoderms have and internal skeleton.Theyskeleton. They have no anus on top.Sometop. Some echinoderms are cucumbers) or planktonicplank tonic feeders (for upon by shells ,shells, crabs and which are carnivorous.Echinodermscarnivorous. Echinoderms have tube to obtain food.Echinodermsfood. Echinoderms can regenerate even intestines.
Types of Echinoderms :
Purple sea urchin
The purple sea urchin has a mouth with five teeth underneath its body so it can graze on kelp quite easily. They consist of several small, sticky and hardly visible feet shaped like a tube which help these organisms to move using hydraulics. They are greenish color when they are young and purple when adult. The purple urchin lives in holes in rocks. They live in low tide zones. They are mainly found along the coast line of Alaska all the way down the Pacific Coast to Mexico. These sea urchins are very important to their habitat because they help maintain the amount of algae in the ocean. Sea urchins are eaten by crabs, sunflower stars, snails, sea otters, some birds, fish, and people. It is classified as Kingdom Animalia and Phylum Echinodermata.
{purpleurchin.jpg}
Basket star
There are approximately 2,000 species of basket stars is a nocturnal filter-feederBasket stars can live to depths of almost 6,564 ft but are usually found 50 to 500 ft below sea level. They live along the Pacific coast from the Bering Sea to southern California. When eating, a basket star wraps several brachlets around its prey, forming a knot. This knotted arm is then drawn toward the central disk. Central disk alone can grow to 14 cm with each arm being 4-5 times larger than its body. These animals grow very slowly. In the wild they may live up to 35 years. They weigh around 11 lbs (5 kg).
{basketstar-.jpg}
Neckalace Starfish
Found singly or in groups mainly on rocky habitat in shallow water.They feed on molluscs, worms and detritus. Small orange star with prominent cream or yellow plates. The plates are larger along the external margins, small and flattened on the upper surface. Have orange central disc and tip of the arms, the central disc have large pores 10 cm diameter.
{neckalace_seastar.jpg}

__phylum__ of __marine____animals__. Echinoderms are found at every ocean depth, from the __intertidal zone__ to the abyssal zone .All echinoderms have one thing in common: radial symmetry. This means that the creatures have appendages which point outward from the center of the body like the spokes on a bicycle wheel. Echinoderms are characterized by their radial symmetry, water vascular system and internal skeleton.They have no heart, brain, nor eyes, but some brittle stars seem to have light sensitive parts on their arms. Their mouth is situated on the underside and their anus on top.Some echinoderms are carnivorous (for example starfish) others are detritus foragers (for example some sea cucumbers) or planktonic feeders (for example basket stars). Echinoderms are protected through their spiny skins and spines. But they are still preyed upon by shells , crabs and shrimps and by other echinoderms like starfish which are carnivorous.Echinoderms have tube feet which they use to attach to objects, for protection, as well as to obtain food.Echinoderms can regenerate missing limbs, arms, spines and even intestines.