1. Introduction to Animal Kingdom…………………………………………………… 7
1.1 Overview of animal kingdom: Principles of classification of invertebrates’
animal kingdom, taxonomy and systematics.
1.2 Importance of Invertebrate Classification: Evolutionary relationships,
Ecological roles (pollination, decomposition, parasitism), Applications
in research, medicine, and biotechnology.
2. Phylum Protozoa ………………………………………………………………………… 17
2.1 General features of phylum Protozoa, habitat diversity and adaptive
features, environmental and ecological significance.
2.2 Classification up to class level and e. g. (names only) –
2.2.1 Class Rhizopoda – Entamoeba histolytica, Arcella.
2.2.2 Class Mastigophora – Euglena viridis, Trypanosoma gambiense.
2.2.3 Class Ciliata – Paramoecium caudatum, Opalina ranarum.
2.2.4 Class Sporozoa – Plasmodium vivax, Toxoplasma gondii.
2.3 Economic importance of Protozoa – three harmful and one useful protozoan.
2.4 Recent advances: Use of nanoparticles in protozoa infection treatment.
3. Origin of Metazoa ……………………………………………………………………….. 33
3.1 Introduction, Origin and importance of Metazoa.
4. Phylum Porifera …………………………………………………………………………. 37
4.1 General features of phylum Porifera, role in marine ecosystems and sponge microbiomes.
4.2 Classification up to class level and e. g. (names only) –
4.2.1 Class Calcarea – Leucosolenia, Sycon (Scypha).
4.2.2 Class Hexactinellida – Euplectella (venus flower basket), Hyalonema (glass sponge).
4.2.3 Class Demospongiae – Chalina (Mermaid’s gloves), Spongilla (fresh water sponge).
4.3 Recent Advances: Marine natural products from sponges for anticancer
and antimicrobial drugs.

5. Phylum Cnidaria ………………………………………………………………………… 48
5.1 General features of phylum Cnidaria: General features, polymorphism,
symbiosis (example with Zooxanthellae).
5.2 Classification up to class level and e. g. (names only)
5.2.1 Class Hydrozoa – Hydra, Physalia (Portuguese man of war).
5.2.2 Class Scyphozoa – Aurelia (Jelly fish), Leucernaria (trumpet shaped Jellyfish).
5.2.3 Class Anthozoa – Metridium (Common Sea anemone).
5.3 Recent Advances: Venom studies, bioluminescence, potential in
regenerative medicine.
6. Phylum Platyhelminthes………………………………………………………………. 60
6.1 General features of phylum Platyhelminthes, parasitic adaptations, and regeneration.
6.2 Classification up to class level
6.2.1 Class: Turbellaria e.g. Dugesia, Bipallium.
6.2.2 Class: Trematoda e.g. Fasciola hepatica, Schistosoma haematobium.
6.2.3 Class Cestoda e.g. Taenia solium (pork tape worm), Echinococcus granulosus (dog tapeworm).
6.2.4 Recent Advances: Introduction to stem cell and regeneration
research in Planaria, Trematode control strategies in Fasciola hepatica.