My name: My name: Selena StarfishSelena Starfish

My phylum: My phylum: EchinodermEchinoderm

My name is Selena Starfish. I am a member of the My name is Selena Starfish. I am a member of the phylum Echinodermata. Echinoderm means “spiny skin” phylum Echinodermata. Echinoderm means “spiny skin” but don’t let the description fool you, we are a marvelous but don’t let the description fool you, we are a marvelous phylum consisting of two subdivisions. One containing phylum consisting of two subdivisions. One containing Starfish, Sea Cucumbers, Sand dollars, Sea Urchins, Starfish, Sea Cucumbers, Sand dollars, Sea Urchins,

and Brittle Stars, the other containing crinoids.and Brittle Stars, the other containing crinoids.

Selena

Individuals of my phylum live Individuals of my phylum live in marine environments. We in marine environments. We are very versatile and are are very versatile and are able to survive anywhere from able to survive anywhere from the shallow shore waters to the shallow shore waters to the dark depths of the seas. the dark depths of the seas.

We are able to survive in We are able to survive in polar, tropical, and temperate polar, tropical, and temperate waters. waters.

A little bit about me…

• I’m actually a carnivore. Feeding on small crustaceans. Some other Echinoderms rely on suspension and filter feeding. Constant water currents are a must!

Activities…Activities…

My top three things to do:My top three things to do:

1. Taking slow strolls along 1. Taking slow strolls along the ocean floorthe ocean floor

2. Feeding2. Feeding

3. Playing hide-and-seek from 3. Playing hide-and-seek from predatorspredators

An insight to my family tree…An insight to my family tree…

So to be perfectly honest I don’t So to be perfectly honest I don’t know who my parents are…they know who my parents are…they left me while I was an egg, but I left me while I was an egg, but I do know a little about my do know a little about my ancestors. Without them I ancestors. Without them I wouldn’t have appendages to wouldn’t have appendages to move or eat with. I believe they move or eat with. I believe they looked much like worms and had looked much like worms and had bilateral symmetry and then, bilateral symmetry and then, through millions of years of through millions of years of evolution, developed limbs and a evolution, developed limbs and a water vascular system like me! water vascular system like me! They were the first to stretch out They were the first to stretch out their podia and scuttle slowly their podia and scuttle slowly across the ocean floor…an across the ocean floor…an amazing fete if you ask me. amazing fete if you ask me.

Why I’m special…Why I’m special…

I’d be an excellent shoulder to cry I’d be an excellent shoulder to cry on…echinoderms all have on…echinoderms all have internal skeletons! internal skeletons!

I also have a water vascular I also have a water vascular system, a set of water branching system, a set of water branching canals that circle the gut and tube canals that circle the gut and tube feet. I can use my feet for feet. I can use my feet for locomotion and to grip objects. locomotion and to grip objects.

We also have a complete gut…We also have a complete gut…dinner is a definite!dinner is a definite!

One last thing…pedicellariaOne last thing…pedicellaria I use these skeletal protrusions to I use these skeletal protrusions to

keep small organisms from keep small organisms from settling on my body...YAY settling on my body...YAY hygiene!hygiene!

Water vascular system

SeekingSeeking

A moving family man who is comfortable with a marine life. A moving family man who is comfortable with a marine life. The ocean floor is my home and I, like others from my The ocean floor is my home and I, like others from my phylum, need its protection plus its just an overall great phylum, need its protection plus its just an overall great

place to reproduce.place to reproduce.

Remember the name Selena and I hope to hear from you soon!!

Mulcrone, Renee Sherman. “Phylum Echinodermata.” Mulcrone, Renee Sherman. “Phylum Echinodermata.” Echinoderms.Echinoderms. 04/25/08. 04/25/08. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echinodermata.html><http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echinodermata.html>

This website is sponsored by the University of Michigan museum of zoology. It provided detailed This website is sponsored by the University of Michigan museum of zoology. It provided detailed information on the habitat and specialized structures of the Echinoderm phylum. Information on information on the habitat and specialized structures of the Echinoderm phylum. Information on the development and physical features of organisms from this phylum were also included on her the development and physical features of organisms from this phylum were also included on her site and was useful background information for this project. From this information I was able to site and was useful background information for this project. From this information I was able to better understand the common characteristic of animals included in this phylum.better understand the common characteristic of animals included in this phylum.

““Morphology: Echinodermata.” 04/25/08. Morphology: Echinodermata.” 04/25/08. <<http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/echinodermata/echinomm.html>http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/echinodermata/echinomm.html>

This website is sponsored by Berkley University. It is a reliable resource that provided information This website is sponsored by Berkley University. It is a reliable resource that provided information on certain aspects of the Echinoderms characteristics such as the Pedicellaria. It also showed on certain aspects of the Echinoderms characteristics such as the Pedicellaria. It also showed that most Echinoderms are able to move. From this website I was able to fill in the holes in that most Echinoderms are able to move. From this website I was able to fill in the holes in regards to the features of the phylum. regards to the features of the phylum.

Tudge, Colin. Tudge, Colin. A variety of Life: A survey and celebration of all the creatures that have ever lived.A variety of Life: A survey and celebration of all the creatures that have ever lived. 04/25/08 <http://books.google.com/books?id=YW-04/25/08 <http://books.google.com/books?id=YW-2gnuU0L0C&pg=PA328&lpg=PA328&dq=echinoderm+genealogy...>2gnuU0L0C&pg=PA328&lpg=PA328&dq=echinoderm+genealogy...>

This is a google books sponsored site and is a online published book. Within this book was a This is a google books sponsored site and is a online published book. Within this book was a section on the genealogy of the phylum Echinoderm. From this I found extremely detailed and section on the genealogy of the phylum Echinoderm. From this I found extremely detailed and slightly confusing details on the evolution of the ancestors of the Echinoderms, but was able to slightly confusing details on the evolution of the ancestors of the Echinoderms, but was able to extract the main parts which proved to be very useful.extract the main parts which proved to be very useful.

““Echinoderms” Echinoderms” Encyclopedia Britannica.Encyclopedia Britannica. 04/25/08 04/25/08 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-25749/echinoderm><http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-25749/echinoderm>

This is an online entry from the Encyclopedia Britannica. It was used to further explore the water This is an online entry from the Encyclopedia Britannica. It was used to further explore the water vascular system and reproductive aspects of this phylum. From this site I found that most vascular system and reproductive aspects of this phylum. From this site I found that most Echinoderms uses external fertilization during which a female will simply release their eggs into Echinoderms uses external fertilization during which a female will simply release their eggs into the water and a male will fertilize them with the spems. the water and a male will fertilize them with the spems.