ix PHYLUM ECHINODERMATA 401 



Affinities. The presence of radial symmetry was formerly 

 regarded as involving a near relationship with the Coelenterata, 

 which were grouped with the Echinoderms under the comprehen- 

 sive class designation of Radiata (see section on the History of 

 Zoology)- But leaving out of account the presence of a bilateral 

 symmetry underlying and partly concealed by the radial, we are led 

 by a study of the anatomy of the various systems of organs to the 

 conclusion that the Echinoderms are in no Way closely or directly 

 related to the Ccelenterates. One very great and very important 

 difference between the two phyla consists in the presence in the 

 Echinodermata of an extensive coelome or body-cavity between 

 the alimentary canal and the body-wall. In addition to this the 

 Echinodermata are characterised by the possession of highly 

 elaborated systems of organs alimentary, vascular, and nervous- 

 such as occur in none of the Coelenterates, all of which exhibit 

 extreme simplicity in their internal structure. A further point of 

 difference, not perhaps of so much importance, is the absence in 

 the Echinoderms of any tendency to form colonies of zooids by 

 asexual multiplication by means of buds : all Echinoderms are 

 simple, i.e. non-colonial, animals, and each of them is developed, 

 save in certain very exceptional cases, as a result of a sexual 

 process from an impregnated ovum. In spite, then, of the radial 

 symmetry, we are forced to the conclusion that the Echinodermata 

 are not more nearly related- to the Coelenterata than to some of 

 the groups of Worms They are, in fact, a singularly isolated 

 group, and we look in vain among the known members, living and 

 fossil, of other phyla, for any really close allies. The intermediate 

 forms whatever they may have been like between the Echino- 

 derms and other groups have become extinct, and have left no 

 remains in the form of fossils, or such remains have not yet been 

 discovered. So difficult has it been found to connect the Echino- 

 derms with other animal types that it has even been proposed to 

 regard an Echinoderm as a radially arranged colony of zooids 

 connected together centrally, each ray being a zooid equivalent 

 to an entire simple worm-like animal. But the history of the 

 development is entirely at variance with such a. view. 



Whatever may have been the group of animals from which the 

 Echinodermata were developed, there is every probability that it 

 was a group with bilateral and not radial symmetry. The radial 

 symmetry is evidently, as has already been pointed out, of a 

 secondary character; it is only assumed at a comparatively late 

 period of development, and even in the adult condition it does 

 not completely disguise a more primitive bilateral arrangement of 

 the parts. Accordingly, within the phylum itself, it is reasonable 

 to regard those classes as the more ancient which have the radial 

 symmetry less completely developed. Again, the free condition 

 which characterises all existing Echinoderms, with the exception 



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