PORIFERA: Sponges
Ircinia felix, commonly known as the stinker sponge, which is an invertebrate in Biscayne National Park. It’s a really interesting organism because it feeds by filtering small organisms and organic matter out of water that passes through their body.
Phyla – Sponges are heterotrophic, multicellular organisms that do not have cell walls, and they are classified as animals.
Class – Living sponges can be passed through a fine mesh, which separates the sponge into individual cells.
Ircinia felix, commonly known as the stinker sponge, which is an invertebrate in Biscayne National Park. It’s a really interesting organism because it feeds by filtering small organisms and organic matter out of water that passes through their body.
Phyla – Sponges are heterotrophic, multicellular organisms that do not have cell walls, and they are classified as animals.
Class – Living sponges can be passed through a fine mesh, which separates the sponge into individual cells.
CNIDARIA: Jellyfish
Porpita porpita, or more commonly known as blue button jelly is a jellyfish where it stings, or irritates the human skin when the tentacles are touched.
Phyla – The body is bell-shaped and is specialized in swimming.
Class – Its bodies are constructed of two cell layers - an outer epidermis and an inner gastrodermis.
Porpita porpita, or more commonly known as blue button jelly is a jellyfish where it stings, or irritates the human skin when the tentacles are touched.
Phyla – The body is bell-shaped and is specialized in swimming.
Class – Its bodies are constructed of two cell layers - an outer epidermis and an inner gastrodermis.
ANNELIDA: Worm
Spirobranchus giganteus has a really cool common name. Its common name is the Christmas tree worm. Ironically, it looks nothing like a Christmas tree, but it is one of the most easily recognizable marine worms in the world.
Phyla – Most annelids have external bristles called setae.
Class – The class of polychaetes have numerous setae that project from parapodia.
Spirobranchus giganteus has a really cool common name. Its common name is the Christmas tree worm. Ironically, it looks nothing like a Christmas tree, but it is one of the most easily recognizable marine worms in the world.
Phyla – Most annelids have external bristles called setae.
Class – The class of polychaetes have numerous setae that project from parapodia.
MOLLUSA: Sea slug
Glossodoris sedan, also known as the red-tipped sea goddess is a sea slug. They are unique because they are carried by ocean currents and they contribute to the dispersal of their species.
Phyla – They hatche from an egg case and exists as a free-swimming larva.
Class – Gastropods undergo a process called torsion during larval development.
Glossodoris sedan, also known as the red-tipped sea goddess is a sea slug. They are unique because they are carried by ocean currents and they contribute to the dispersal of their species.
Phyla – They hatche from an egg case and exists as a free-swimming larva.
Class – Gastropods undergo a process called torsion during larval development.
CRUSTACEA: Barnacle
Lepas anatifera, otherwise known as the smooth gooseneck barnacle is an organism in Biscayne. This certain barnacle can be eaten. They also develop a shell composed of calcium carbonate plates that completely closes the body when they attach themselves to a surface.
Phyla – Most crustaceans have a pair of jawlike, chewing mouthparts called mandibles.
Class – Barnacles attaches themselves to rocks, piers, boats, and other surface.
Lepas anatifera, otherwise known as the smooth gooseneck barnacle is an organism in Biscayne. This certain barnacle can be eaten. They also develop a shell composed of calcium carbonate plates that completely closes the body when they attach themselves to a surface.
Phyla – Most crustaceans have a pair of jawlike, chewing mouthparts called mandibles.
Class – Barnacles attaches themselves to rocks, piers, boats, and other surface.
ARACHNIDA: Crab
Limulus polyphemus, the horseshoe crab is unique to Biscayne because they are a vastly adaptable generalist that predates most species on the planet. Plus, they have a lifecycle that is interlocked with other animals.
Phyla – The horseshoe crab lacks an antenna and has six pairs of appendages.
Class – The body is divided into a cephalothorax and an abdomen.
Limulus polyphemus, the horseshoe crab is unique to Biscayne because they are a vastly adaptable generalist that predates most species on the planet. Plus, they have a lifecycle that is interlocked with other animals.
Phyla – The horseshoe crab lacks an antenna and has six pairs of appendages.
Class – The body is divided into a cephalothorax and an abdomen.
INSECTA: Butterfly
Papilio andraemon bonhotei, more commonly known as Bahama swallowtail butterfly is an insect species. Just like any other unique butterfly, their larvae and pupae produce silk. However, their larvae damages clothing and crops.
Phyla – Butterflies have a segmented body, jointed appendages, and an exoskeleton.
Class – They have large, scaled wings and their chewing mouthparts are in the larvae; siphoning mouthparts in adults.
Papilio andraemon bonhotei, more commonly known as Bahama swallowtail butterfly is an insect species. Just like any other unique butterfly, their larvae and pupae produce silk. However, their larvae damages clothing and crops.
Phyla – Butterflies have a segmented body, jointed appendages, and an exoskeleton.
Class – They have large, scaled wings and their chewing mouthparts are in the larvae; siphoning mouthparts in adults.
ECHINODERMATA: Brittle star
Ophiocoma echinata, also known as the blunt-spined brittle star is a really cool organism that lives in Biscayne. They evolved the ability to move from place to place.
Phyla – They are radially symmetrical animals.
Class – Brittle stars have long, narrow, arms, which allow them to move more quickly than other echinoderms.
Ophiocoma echinata, also known as the blunt-spined brittle star is a really cool organism that lives in Biscayne. They evolved the ability to move from place to place.
Phyla – They are radially symmetrical animals.
Class – Brittle stars have long, narrow, arms, which allow them to move more quickly than other echinoderms.