Taxonomy

Animals are classified according to body plans such as radial or bilateral symmetry, presence of a coelom, and whether they are Protostomes or Deuterostomes. The following represent the Phyla that are most easily distinguished in the marine eenvironment of Southeast Alaska. The common names of the types of organisms are listed and serve to be helpful to those less versed in invertebrate taxonomy. Click on the Phylum to discover more information about these groups

Porifera: sponges

Cnidaria: jellyfish, sea anemones, sea pens

Ctenophora: Comb Jellies

Platyhelminthes: Flat worms

Nemertea: Ribbon worms

Mollusca: Clams, oysters, snails, cephalopods, limpets, chitons,

Annelida: Segmented worms

Tardigrada: water bears

Arthropoda: animals with jointed appendages including crabs, shrimps, insects, mites and the likes

Echinodermata