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Aschelminthes

(Superphylum)

Overview

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Previously a single phylum containing all the pseudocoelomate animals including the nematodes and rotifers. Used as a collective term for the variety of pseudocoelomate phyla now recognised.

Photos

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Taxonomy

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The Superphylum Aschelminthes is a member of the Infrakingdom Ecdysozoa. Here is the complete "parentage" of Aschelminthes:

The Superphylum Aschelminthes is further organized into finer groupings including:

Phyla

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Kinorhyncha

Kinorhyncha (Gr. ?????, kineo 'move' + ??????, rhynchos 'snout') is a of small (1 mm or less) marine pseudocoelomate invertebrates that are widespread in mud or sand at all depths as part of the meiobenthos. They are also called mud dragons. [more]

Loricifera

Nematoda

The "roundworms" or "nematodes" ( Nematoda) are the most diverse phylum of pseudocoelomates, and one of the most diverse of all animals. Nematode species are very difficult to distinguish; over 80,000 have been described, of which over 15,000 are parasitic. It has been estimated that the total number of described and undescribed roundworms might be more than 500,000. Unlike cnidarians or flatworms, roundworms have a digestive system that is like a tube at both ends. [more]

Nematomorpha

Nematomorpha (sometimes called Gordiacea, and commonly known as Horsehair worms or Gordian worms) are a of parasitic animals that are morphologically and ecologically similar to nematode worms, hence the name. They range in size from 1cm to 1 meter long, and 1 to 3 millimetres in diameter. Horsehair worms can be discovered in damp areas such as watering troughs, streams, puddles, and cisterns. The adult worms are free living, but the larvae are parasitic on beetles, cockroaches, Orthoptera and crustaceans. About 326 species are known and a conservative estimate suggests that there may be about 2000 species worldwide. The name "Gordian" stems from the legendary Gordian knot. This relates to the fact that nematomorpha often tie themselves in knots. [more]

Priapulida

Priapulida (priapulid worms or penis worms, from Gr. p???p??, priapos '' + Lat. -ul-, diminutive) are a phylum of marine worms with an extensible spiny proboscis. Priapulid fossils are known at least as far back as the Middle Cambrian. Their nearest relatives are probably Kinorhyncha and Loricifera with which they constitute the taxon Scalidophora. Besides arthropods and velvet worms, it is only among Priapulida that we can find members of the Ecdysozoa which are relatively large in size. They were likely major predators of the Cambrian period. There are 16 known species of Priapulid worms. [more]

At least 8 species and subspecies belong to the Phylum Priapulida.

More info about the Phylum Priapulida may be found here.

Sources

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Last Revised: September 22, 2009
2009/09/22 05:54:26