KINGDOM ANIMALIA
| SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY |
KINGDOM ANIMALIA |
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| HOME | SYLLABUS | WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS | J. SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY | TAXA OF LIFE | |
| PHYLUM CYCLIOPHORA | |||||
INTRODUCTION TO THE CYCLIOPHORA
Cycliophora (si-kle-O-fo-ra) is derived from two Greek roots that mean wheel bearers [wheel- kyklos (κύκλος); and bearer -phoro (φέρω)]. The name refers to the apparent "turning" of the ciliary ring around the mouth.
The cycliophorans were found recently by Funk and Kristensen (1995) attached to the mouthparts of lobsters in the North Atlantic. Since then, they have been found on other decapod crustaceans. They are filter feeders like rotifers and entoprocts, to which they appear to be related (Figure A).
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A. An illustration of Symbion. |
| Image taken from: A: http://biodidac.bio.uottawa.ca/thumbnails/catquery.htm?Kingdom=Animalia&phylum=Cycliophora |
SYNOPTIC DESCRIPTION OF THE CYCLIOPHORA
| The following information came from Margulis and Schwartz (1998), Brusca and Brusca (2003), Nielsen (2001), and Tudge (2000). |
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I. SYNONYMS: cycliophorans. II. NUMBER: 1 species known. II. PHYLUM CHARACTERISTICS: A. Structure Symmetry: Bilateral Body Cavity: Pseudocoelom (presumed). Body Covering: Outer cuticle. Support: Hydrostatic skeleton and cuticle. Digestive System: Food tube U-shaped. Anus discharges outside of ciliary ring. Circulatory System: Absent. Locomotion: Animals sessile; anterior ciliary ring to move water. Excretory System: Absent. Nervous System: Anterior ganglion from which nerves emanate. Endocrine System: None. B. Reproduction: Reproductive System: Sexes separate and dimorphic. Males are reduced, dwarfed, and live attached to females as little more than a packet of sperm. Budding of females also occurs. Males somehow fertilize the oocyte (egg) contained within the female bud. Development: Alternation between sexual and asexual stages (as indicated above). Zygote develops into a swimming chordoid larva which seems to be a modified trochophore. This stage is the means of dispersal. Other details are not yet known. C. Ecology: Ectoparasites or commensals on the mouthparts of marine decapod crustaceans. Larvae planktonic. |
HIERARCHICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE CYCLIOPHORA
Taxonomy of the phylum cannot be defined with a single known species. I have assigned the name Cycliophorida for its apparent class. |
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CLASS CYCLIOPHORIDA
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This page is maintained by Jack R. Holt. Last modified: 01/05/08.
