Question

Is the nervous system of platyhelminthes more or less sophisticated than that of cnidarians? What are the main neural structures found in flatworms? How is this neural organization important for the diversity of ecological niches explored by species of the phylum?

Answer 1

Platyhelminthes have a more sophisticated nervous system than cnidarians. They contain neural chords with ganglia (grouping of neurons) which indicates the increased nervous complexity.

In platyhelminthes, the cephalization process can be seen in the beginning, with a concentration of neurons in the anterior portion of the body and the presence of photoreceptor cells in the ocelli.

Due to the increased complexity of their neural network, platyhelminthes achieved the increased capacity to perceive and interact with their environment. It is possible to find platyhelminthes in a variety of environments and ways of life including the terrestrial and diverse ways of life including parasitic and free-living species.