Question

What is the function of parapodia? Name the animal that has parapodia.

Answer 1

Hint: Parapodia are nothing but lateral outgrowth, which can be seen as protrusions from the body, and these parapodia are commonly seen in annelids however the protrusions are paired, unjoint, lateral outgrowth which bears the chaetae, in some animals like snails and sea slugs, these parapodia are referred to as fleshy protrusions.

Complete answer:

Parodia is generally found in polychaete annelids.

In those annelids, the parapodia are fleshy which are segments arranged along the long axis of the body.

The size of the paranoia varies both in size as well as form, which reflects their variety of functions such as the exchange of gases and anchorage and another function such as locomotion, etc.

In some polychaetes, these parapodia are present as 2 types, uniramous- which contains one lobe, 

Biramous-They contain two lobes, one is dorsal which is called Notopodia, while another is ventral which is called Neuropodia.

Both the dorsal and ventral lobes, such as both notopodia and neuropodia possess the bundle of chaetae, where they are highly specific and diversified.

A chaeta that is fleshy in acicula contains the stout structure which is supported, we’ll develop Parapodia.

In this organism having biramous parapodia where both notopodia and neuropodia possess Cirri, which has tentacle-like projections of parapodia.

In some groups of worms, which are called Polynoidae, they have dorsal cirrus that is modified to scale.

In some species of annelids, the anterior segment is specialized into a head region called prostomium, where they modify such as they may lose or they may elongate, etc.

Note:  Parapodia are not only found in annelids they are also found in the gastropods especially in marine ones, where they are used for swimming or sometimes they use them for respiration, and also in the locomotion, this is also particularly well developed in the sea butterflies.