There is some debate as to a definitive classification. Planarians are commonly used in biology classes. The flat worms attach to their hosts and eat through the skin.įlatworms continue to fascinate researchers. In water, they may prey on fish, often endangering entire hatcheries. They can be incredible hunters and scavengers. ![]() Their bodies produce a poison that keeps most predators at bay. Many are blessed with brilliant colors, and may be mistaken for nudibranches. Marine flatworms, or polyclads, are also fascinating. They can sense light and dark through two eyespots. Most have two brains but these amount to nothing more than nerve bundles, known as ganglia. Some flatworms are invisible to the naked eye while others, such as the tapeworm, can reach several feet lengthwise. They can literally attack earthworms in great numbers and turn them to mush before sucking the remains into their intestinal system. Before any food is consumed, flatworms coat it in enzymes that break down the cell structures. In fact, flatworms can be voracious predators. They can excrete some unwanted materials through what are called “flame cells.” These bear tiny hairs, or cilia, that act as filters. Flatworms do have a system for controlling water absorption. What goes in must, after digestion, come out in the same direction. Their thin profile is composed of three cell layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm.Įven more interesting, however, is the fact that they have a single body opening – the mouth. Their flat bodies allow them to ingest oxygen across the surface. They have no lungs nor do they possess a circulatory system, although some feature a complex branching system to disperse nutrients. The flatworm anatomy will vary among the many species, most of which do not have common names.
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