The Lesser Protostomes
The Lesser Protostomes Phyla contain few numbers of species All phyla are aquatic organisms Recorded in the fossil record – especially fossil beds such as the Burgess shale Morphologies are intermediate to the morphologies of the major lophotrochozoa phyla Mollusca, Annelida and the Ecdyzoa phylum Arthropoda
Lessor Lophotrochozoan Phyla
Phylum Gnathostomulida 1st discovered 1928, formally described 1956 18 genera, 80 species 0.5-1mm Feed on bacteria, fungal, & protozoan cells in sediment Aceolomic Incomplete digestive tract Monociliated epidermal cells Gnathostomula jenneri Gnathostomula paradoxa
Phylum Micrognathozoa
Phylum Micrognathozoa 1 species !!! 1st discovered 1994, formally described 2000 0.1-0.2mm Complete gut Complex jaw Only females found Parthenogenetic ?
Phylum Rotifera ~2000 species Corona of ciliated cells Pseudoceolomic Central nervous system Complete gut Many species are female only Parthenogenetic
Phylum Rotifera Rotifer YouTube Movie
Parthenogenetic Reproduction Females are diploid Amictic eggs Produced by mitosis Are not fertilized Mictic eggs Produced by meiosis Develop w/o fertilization into haploid male Fertilized mictic eggs enter dormancy
Phylum Acanthocephala
Phylum Gastrotricha ~500 species 0.06-0.5mm Feed on bacteria & protozoa Hermaphroditic Freshwater species parthenogenetic Chaetonotus simrothi
Phylum Cycliophora Discovered 1995 0.35-.1mm Simbion pandora Discovered 1995 0.35-.1mm Live on mouthparts of marine decapod crustaceans
Phylum Phoronida Phoronis hippocrepia Fig. 21.9 Phoronopsis viridis
Phylum Ectoprocta (Bryozoa) Electra pilosa Fig. 21.10 Plumatella repens
Bryozoan Micrographs
Ectoprocts (Bryozoans) Bugula sp Fig. 21.11
Phylum Brachiopoda Fig. 21.15
Phylum Brachiopoda Fig. 21.16