How has research been used for experimental function of the cephalopods?

1. What is the purpose of cephalopods?
2. Why are cephalopods generally considered the most advanced invertebrates?
3. Why are cephalopods protected?
4. Can an octopus vomit?
5. What did cephalopods evolve from?
6. What are the characteristics of cephalopods?
7. What structures do cephalopods have to help them camouflage?
8. In what ways are mollusks important to the ecosystem?
9. What features relate cephalopods to other mollusks?
10. How do cephalopods breathe?
11. Why do cephalopods have a closed circulatory system?
12. How does a squid's nervous system work?
13. Can sharks vomit?
14. Can frogs puke?
15. Do giraffes puke?

What is the purpose of cephalopods?

Cephalopods, especially squids, are believed to have a structuring role in marine ecosystems as a link between different trophic levels, primarily due to their voracious prey consumption and high production rate.

Why are cephalopods generally considered the most advanced invertebrates?

The cephalopod class of mollusks are considered the most intelligent invertebrates and an important example of advanced cognitive evolution amongst animals in general. ... Without exception all cephalopods are active predators and the ability to locate and capture prey often demands some sort of reasoning power.

Why are cephalopods protected?

Most animal welfare legislation protects only vertebrates. However, cephalopods have a special position among invertebrates in terms of their perceived ability to experience pain, which is reflected by some national and international legislation protecting them during research.

Can an octopus vomit?

californica sharing some digestive tract morphological and innervation similarities with Octopus vulgaris is able to vomit or regurgitate with the mechanisms well characterized, providing an example of motor program switching; (2) a rationale for vomiting or regurgitation in cephalopods based upon the potential ...

What did cephalopods evolve from?

Cephalopods evolved during the Cambrian (∼530 Ma) from a monoplacophoran-like mollusc in which the conical, external shell was modified into a chambered buoyancy apparatus. During the mid-Palaeozoic (∼416 Ma) cephalopods diverged into nautiloids and the presently dominant coleoids.

What are the characteristics of cephalopods?

All cephalopods have the same basic anatomy. They're made up of a body, a head and a foot. They have a muscular casing called a mantle which contains and protects their organs. They all have arms -- at least eight of them -- that are attached directly to their heads, but only some species also have tentacles.

What structures do cephalopods have to help them camouflage?

In addition to hiding in crevices and small holes that these soft-body mollusks easily fit into (Sheel & Bisson, 2012), many cephalopods rely on sophisticated tissues - the chromatophores, iridophores, leucophores and papillae - to blend in with their surroundings and disrupt their body outlines, making them much more ...

In what ways are mollusks important to the ecosystem?

Mollusks are among the most diverse and abundant animal groups, inhabiting many aquatic and terrestrial environments. They are important ecosystem engineers, helping to structure aquatic bottom environments and providing habitat, protection, and food to a wide array of other taxa.

What features relate cephalopods to other mollusks?

The cephalopods appear to be very different from other mollusks, but physiologically they are similar. Cephalopods, like most mollusks, have a mantle, a mantle cavity, a radula, and a U-shaped digestive tract. Cephalopods have two kidneys and three hearts, which pump blue blood.

How do cephalopods breathe?

Respiration. Cephalopods exchange gases with the seawater by forcing water through their gills, which are attached to the roof of the organism. Water enters the mantle cavity on the outside of the gills, and the entrance of the mantle cavity closes.

Why do cephalopods have a closed circulatory system?

One advantages of a closed system, which we humans share with cephalopods, is that blood can travel farther through the blood vessels, including veins, arteries, and capillaries. Closed circulatory systems are also more energy efficient, sending larger quantities of oxygenated blood to various tissues.

How does a squid's nervous system work?

Cephalopods do have a small brain, but their nervous system is not like a central nervous system. The neurons are clustered all over the place, kind of in a network. Those clusters are called ganglia. And from there, they have some independent control of a segment of the body.

Can sharks vomit?

As a way to put off attackers (or to remove indigestible stomach content), sharks can turn their stomachs inside out and vomit up their latest meal. Some predators eat the vomit instead of the shark.

Can frogs puke?

Frogs. Many species of frogs will vomit out their own stomach. They gain this ability once reaching maturity, allowing them to expel toxins they may have eaten. Some frogs can even be seen giving their stomach a quick scrub with their feet.

Do giraffes puke?

Giraffes throw up on a regular basis but not like humans. They do it more like a cow and break down their food a little in the first of the four chambers of the stomach before regurgitating the food back into the mouth, where it is chewed more thoroughly. Giraffes even regurgitate water.