Answer the following questions in detail

Question

Members of which phylum are known as segmented or ring worms?

Accepted Answer

Annelids are commonly called as ring worms or segmented worms.
Characteristic feature of phylum Annelida:

Forms: Annelids may be aquatic, ectoparasitic or free – living or burrowing in moist soil.
Body symmetry: They are bilaterally symmetrical.
Body coelom: They are true coelomates.
Segmentation: Body is metamerically segmented and has a special region called clitellum.
Digestive system: Alimentary canal is complete.
Locomotion: Locomotion takes place with the help of setae (earthworm), parapodia (Nereis) or suckers (leech). Well developed longitudinal and circular muscles help in locomotion.
Nervous system: It consists of nerve ring and ventral solid and ganglionated nerve cord.
Reproduction: Mostly are hermaphrodites and few are dioecious (Nereis).
Respiration: Exchange of gases takes place through body wall.
Circulation: Circulatory system is of closed type. Excretion and osmoregulation is carried out with help of nephridia. e.g. Nereis (Aquatic annelid), Pheretima (Earthworm), Hirudinaria (Leech).

Characters	Monera	Protista	Fungi	Plantae	Animalia
Cell type	Prokaryotic	Eukaryotic	Eukaryotic	Eukaryotic	Eukaryotic
Cell wall		Present in some organisms		Present (cellulose)
Nuclear membrane	Absent	Present	Present		Present
Body organization	Unicellular		Multicellular/ loose tissue	Tissue /organ	Tissue /organ system
Mode of nutrition		Autotrophic Photosynthetic, Heterotrophic		Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Ecological role	Decomposers		Decomposers		Consumers

Answer