Which term describes a body symmetry with a central axis?

Prepare for the IB Marine Science SL Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions that include hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which term describes a body symmetry with a central axis?

Explanation:
Radial symmetry describes a body plan organized around a central axis, so any plane that passes through that axis can divide the organism into similar portions. This arrangement is common in animals like jellyfish and sea anemones, and in starfish the symmetry is radial, centered on the axis. A polyp is a cnidarian life form that often shows radial symmetry, but it’s describing a form, not the specific term for symmetry itself. Sponges (Porifera) are typically irregular or lack a clear symmetry, and reptiles (Reptilia) belong to a group that shows bilateral symmetry rather than a radial pattern. So radial symmetry is the best description for a body plan with a central axis.

Radial symmetry describes a body plan organized around a central axis, so any plane that passes through that axis can divide the organism into similar portions. This arrangement is common in animals like jellyfish and sea anemones, and in starfish the symmetry is radial, centered on the axis. A polyp is a cnidarian life form that often shows radial symmetry, but it’s describing a form, not the specific term for symmetry itself. Sponges (Porifera) are typically irregular or lack a clear symmetry, and reptiles (Reptilia) belong to a group that shows bilateral symmetry rather than a radial pattern. So radial symmetry is the best description for a body plan with a central axis.

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