Echinoderms

Echinoderms include well-known animals like starfish and sea urchins, as well as lesser-known organisms such as sea lilies (crinoids), sea cucumbers, and brittle stars. Like all the animals studied in the NoDe project, they belong to the group of deuterostomes, alongside chordates and hemichordates. Echinoderms have unique features, including the pentaradial symmetry of adult forms and the water vascular system, a system of internal channels used for movement. These animals have been extensively studied, especially regarding reproduction and regenerative abilities. However, their sensory organs are still poorly understood, and it is unclear whether they can perceive sound stimuli. The NoDe project aims to analyze the morphology of a Mediterranean crinoid, Antedon mediterranea, using modern investigative techniques to try to identify and describe the mechanoreceptors in these animals and understand how they react to sound pollution.