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Synopsis Member of phylum Echinoderm are exclusively marine and are largely bottom dwellers. All are relatively large sized animals, most being at least several centimeters in diameter. The most striking characteristic of this phylum is their pentamerous radial symmetry i.e., the body can usually be divided into five parts arranged around a central axis. The phylum contains about 6000 known species and constitutes the only major group of deuterostome invertebrates.
An Introduction to Echinodermata is the second revised and enlarged edition of the book. It has been designed to approach the morphology, anatomy, physiology and development of selected type in a simple and lucid style. According to the scheme of treatment the important animal types of the phylum have been dealt with first, and efforts have been made to present their elaborate and uptodate account. General characters and classification and brief description of other important types of the phylum have also been dealt with complete, authentic and uptodate account. Further separate chapters on topics of significance and general interest pertaining to the phylum have also been added to make the treatment more elaborate.