Description of radial symmetry

Question

Give a brief description of radial symmetry? Write down the type of symmetry found in chordates? Which are other phyla of animal kingdom which present species with radial symmetry?

Answer 1

Radial symmetry signifies (or biologically) that animal structures are located in a radial or circular pattern around a midpoint point with nonexistence of sides, like right or left. An alternative type of symmetry in that structures are placed equally in sides of a longitudinal axis is lateral symmetry (symmetry present in human beings, for instance).

Chordates present lateral symmetry.

Besides cnidarians another animal phylum with species presenting secondary radial symmetry is the phylum Echinodermata. (It is considered that the simplicity of poriferans doesn’t typify any symmetry.)