Sea urchins and sand dollars belong to Echinoidea. They typically lack arms and have a compact body enclosed by a test. This MCQ belongs to the Echinoidea topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.
Brittle stars belong to Ophiuroidea. Their long flexible arms are clearly distinct from the central disc and are used for movement. This MCQ belongs to the Ophiuroidea topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.
Sea stars belong to class Asteroidea. They have arms that are not sharply separated from the central disc and are common representatives of echinoderms. This MCQ belongs to the Asteroidea topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.
Correct Answer: C. endoskeleton of calcareous ossicles
Explanation:
Echinoderms have an endoskeleton made of calcareous ossicles or plates. In sea urchins these plates form a rigid test. This MCQ belongs to the Echinodermata topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.
Echinoderms are deuterostomes, sharing developmental features with chordates such as blastopore fate and coelom formation patterns. This makes them important in phylogenetic study. This MCQ belongs to the Echinodermata topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.
Echinoderm larvae are bilaterally symmetrical, while adults become pentaradial. This supports the evolutionary relationship of echinoderms with other bilaterian animals. This MCQ belongs to the Echinodermata topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.
Adult echinoderms usually show pentaradial symmetry, commonly arranged in five parts. Their larvae, however, are bilaterally symmetrical. This MCQ belongs to the Echinodermata topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.
The madreporite is a sieve-like plate that connects the water vascular system with the external seawater. It helps regulate fluid entry into the system. This MCQ belongs to the Echinodermata topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.
Tube feet are extensions of the water vascular system. In sea stars, they help in locomotion, attachment, feeding, and manipulating prey. This MCQ belongs to the Echinodermata topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.
The water vascular system is a defining echinoderm feature. It operates tube feet for locomotion, feeding, attachment, and gas exchange in many species. This MCQ belongs to the Echinodermata topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.
Arthropods show remarkable adaptive diversification due to segmentation, tagmatization, jointed appendages, exoskeleton, and varied developmental patterns. These traits helped them become the most diverse animal phylum. This MCQ belongs to the Arthropoda topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.
Spiracles are openings of the insect tracheal system. They allow air to enter and leave the tracheae and can help regulate water loss. This MCQ belongs to the Insecta topic in Animal Diversity-I and is written to test concept understanding rather than memorized wording.