FSc Notes Class XI Biology Phylum Platyhelminthes (Flat worms) 1st Year Biology Notes Online Taleem Ilmi Hub Class 11

If you want to see other Biology Part 1 Notes Click Here.

Phylum Platyhelminthes (Flat worms)

MAIN CHARACTERS

HABIT AND HABITAT

Animals are mostly Parasitic in habitat and found in other higher animals. But some animals are also free living.

NATURE

They are triploblastic in nature i.e. body is composed of three germinal layers, viz, ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm

EXTERNAL FEATURES

Their bodies are compressed dorsoventrally and shows bilateral symmetry.
Body shape generally worm like but vary from moderately elongated flattened to long flat ribbons and leaf like.
The flat worms are small to moderate in size varying from microscopic to as long as up to 10-15 m.
Majority of animals are white or colourless, some derive colour from ingested food.
Anterior end of body is differentiated into head.
Ventral surface bearing mouth and genital pores.
Presence of great variety of adhesive parts e.g. suckers.
Body is covered by cuticle or by ciliated epidermis.
Hard part consist of cuticle, spines, thorns or hooks etc.

INTERNAL FEATURES

Endo and Exo skeleton are completely absent, hence the body is generally soft.
Acoelomate i.e. true coelom is absent.
Body space between various organs is filled with MESENCHYME.
Digestive system is poorly developed or absent.
Respiratory and Circulatory systems are absent.
Excretory system consists of Protonephridia or flame cells.
Nervous system is primitive. The main nervous system consists of a pair of cerebral ganglia or brain and 1-3 pairs of longitudinal nerve cords, connected to each other by transverse commissures.

REPRODUCTION

Platyhelmenthes are hermaphrodite i.e. male and female sex organs are present in same individual.
In majority of forms eggs are devoid of Yolk but provided with special yolk cells.
Cross fertilization as well as self fertilization is present.
Life cycle may be simple or complicated involved one or more hosts.
EXAMPLES: Planaria, Liver flukes, Schistosoma and Taenia Solium etc.