Difference Between Radial and Bilateral Symmetry

The main difference between bilateral and radial symmetries is that bilateral symmetry divides an organism into two identical reflected halves with a single plane, whereas radial symmetry can be halved at multiple planes to create identical parts with rotational symmetry.

Radial vs. Bilateral Symmetry

Here are the main Difference Between Radial and Bilateral Symmetry:

Here’s the updated table with examples at the end:

Difference	Bilateral Symmetry	Radial Symmetry
Definition	Body plan divided into two identical halves by a single plane	Body plan divided into multiple identical parts by multiple planes
Number of Dividing Planes	One dividing plane	Multiple dividing planes
Reflective Symmetry	Present	Absent
Rotational Symmetry	Absent	Present
Similar Parts	Arranged equally on both left and right sides, creating a mirror image	Arranged in a regular manner around the central axis
Development of the Head	Prominent feature	Rare occurrence
The Body Separation	Separated into left and right halves	Not separated into left and right halves
Distribution of Similar Components	Similar bodily components are similarly distributed on both the left and right sides	Body components that are similar are placed in a regular pattern around the central axis
Adaptation	Suited for directed movement, specialized senses, and complex behaviors	Suited for a stationary lifestyle, efficient feeding, and exposure from all directions
Evolutionary Advantage	Efficient movement, coordination, and interaction with the environment	Access to resources, increased feeding surface area, and enhanced defense mechanisms
Emergence of a Head	A noteworthy trait is the formation of a head in front of the organism’s body	It is uncommon for a head to emerge ahead of the body
Examples	Human, insects, crustaceans, centipedes, spiders, orchid flowers	Sea urchin, sea anemone, jellyfish, starfish, viral coats, coral, sea sponges, sea lilies, hydras, sea pens, comb jellies