1. Phyla Order (11 phyla)

"Poor Creatures Cry Poorly And Arrive At Many Exotic Homes Cheerfully" P-C-C-P-A-A-A-M-E-H-C Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, Aschelminthes, Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Hemichordata, Chordata

2. Vertebrate Classes (7 classes)

"Cute Children Often Attack Roaming Angry Monsters" C-C-O-A-R-A-M Cyclostomata, Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, Mammalia

3. Chordata's 4 Features

"No Dorsal Gills Post" N-D-G-P = Notochord, Dorsal nerve cord, Gill slits, Post-anal tail

4. Heart Chambers (vertebrates)

"Two Fish, Three Frogs, Four Crocs-Birds-Mammals"

• Fish (Cyclo + Chondri + Ostei) = 2 chambers
• Frogs, Reptiles = 3 chambers
• Crocodile + Birds + Mammals = 4 chambers

5. Diploblastic phyla

"Diplo = CN" (CN = Cnidaria + cteNophora)

6. Exceptions rhyme

"Croco four, Platy eggs more"

• Croco (Crocodile) = 4 chambers (not 3 like other reptiles)
• Platy (Platypus) = lays eggs (not viviparous like other mammals)

7. Radial symmetry phyla

"Can't Escape Circles" = Cnidaria + Echinodermata (adults) + Ctenophora

8. Largest phyla

"Arthur is First, Molly is Second" Arthropoda = #1 (LARGEST); Mollusca = #2 (second largest)

9. Excretory organs by phylum

"Flat Flames Neatly, Arthropods Malfunction" Flat (Platyhelminthes) → Flames (flame cells) Neat (Annelida) → Nephridia Arthropods → Malpighian tubules

10. Cephalopoda unique features

"OCLS" = Octopus Closed-Like Sharks (Closed circulation, unlike other Mollusca)