Starfish Dissection Pre-lab Introduction
1. What phylum does the Starfish belong? 2. The phylum Echinodermata is composed of the most familiar marine animals and is distinguished by: 3. What class does the starfish belong? 4. Name four tools that are recommended for this dissection: External Features 5. Name and describe the opening of the water vascular system. 6. The mouth is in the center of the underside surface. This surface is also known as: 7. What are the deep furrows extending from the mouth to the tips of each arm called? 8. What do these deep grooves contain? 9. At the end of each arm or ray, what is located? 10. In preserved specimens how can these items be seen? 11. On the aboral surface, the dorsal side, ossicles of endoskeleton are located. What is another name for these plates? 12. Where are the dermal brachiae and what is their function? 13. What are the pedicellaria, what is there function? Beginning the dissection 14. What five systems will we study during this dissection? Skeletal: 15. What is the first cut you are told to make in this dissection? Digestive: 16. Read and describe in your own words the dissection that takes place to view the digestive system: Reproduction: 17. Are the sexes separate or are both sex organs in the same animal? 18. What is the term that describes this? 19. What must be done to reveal the gonads? 20. The size of the gonads will depend upon: 21. Where does fertilization take place? 22. What type of reproduction is regeneration? Water-Vascular: 23. Describe the water vascular system from the madreporite to the tube feet: Nervous System: 24. Are the nerves easy or difficult to find in the dissection of the starfish? 25. How is the pattern of nerves similar to the water vascular system? 26. How are arm movements coordinated? 27. What does the network of nerves on the body wall coordinate? Natural History 28. Where are starfish most numerous? 29. Starfish have been found at depths of 30. Some starfish have _____________ number of arms. 31. What is used to open the shells of its prey? 32. Draw a labeled diagram of both the external and internal anatomy of the starfish in your lab notebook. |
Resources and diagrams
A Mini-guide to the Dissection of the Starfish
Ocean Animals: Echinoderms Introduction to the Asteroidea (Sea Stars) Echinoderms and Prochordates (Anatomy) Visual Dictionary: Internal Anatomy of Starfish Anatomy of a Starfish |