Updated by: Arabinda Naik
Hemichordata (Hemi — half; — notochord) This phylum consists of a small group of worm-like animal.
Habit and Habitat They arc exclusive marine and mostly live in burrows.
Symmetry and body Organisation They are bilaterally symmetrical and triploblastic, they have organ system level of organisation.
Body forms They are soft-bodied, cylindrical, and unsegmented body is divisible into proboscis, collar, and trunk. The body cavity is true coelom. A true notochord is absent.
Digestive Systems Digestive system is complete.
Respiraton Respiration occurs through several pair of gill slits or through the general body surface.
Circulatory System It contains a dorsal heart is open type.
Excretory system It consists of proboscis gland.
Nervous system: is primitive, consists mainly of an intraepidermal nerve plexus.
Sensation Sensory cells of the epidermis act as sense organs.
Reproduction It is mostly sexual. Sexes are separate. Development indirect with tornaria larva.