Phylum-Hemichordata

These are recently added as a phylum under non-chordates, earlier these were considered as a sub-phylum under the phylum chordates. They possess a rudimentary structure in the collar region known as a stomochord, which is similar to a notochord in structure.

The hemichordates are marine deuterostome animals, generally considered the sister group of echinoderms. They appeared in the lower middle of the Cambrian.

Scientific classification of phylum hemichordate
Scientific classification of phylum hemichordata
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
Clade: ParaHoxozoa
Clade: Bilateria
Clade: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Clade: Ambulacraria
Phylum: Hemichordata

 

Characteristics features of phylum- Hemichordata

Hemichordates possess the following characteristic features:

  • These are a small group of worm-like animals.
  • These animals are marine.
  • level of organization: The organ system level
  • Symmetry: Bilateral symmetry
  • Germinal layer: These members possess a triploblastic body.
  • Body cavity: coelomate animals.
  • These consist of the body in a cylindrical shape,  anterior proboscis, a collar, and a long trunk.
  • Circulatory system: The hemichordates consist of an open type of circulatory system.
  • Excretory organ: The probosci’s gland functions as an excretory organ.
  • Reproduction: sexes are separate
    • External fertilization is found in hemichordates.
  • Development is indirect.
  • Some examples of hemichordates: are Balanoglossus and Saccoglossus, Spengelia, Protoglosus, etc.

 

hemichordate

hemichordate

Classification of Phylum-Hemichordata

The phylum Hemichordata includes two main classes: Enteropneusta (acorn worms), and Pterobranchia.

Class: Enteropneusta (acorn worms) or tongue worm

The enteropneusts shows the following features:

  • Most acorn worms range from 9 to 45 cm in length.
  • The largest species is Balanoglossus gigas, length 1.5 meters (5ft) or more.
  • The body is made up of three main parts:
    • An acorn-shaped proboscis
    • Short fleshy collar
    • A long worm-like trunk.
  • The mouth is located at the collar behind the proboscis.
  • The skin is covered with cilia and glands. The glands secret mucus.
  • Some of them produce a bromide compound that provides a medicinal smell for protection from bacteria and predators.
  • Many acorn worms are detritus feeders, eating sand or mud and extracting organic detritus. Others feed on organic material suspended in the water, which they can draw into the mouth using the cilia on the gill bars
  • The acorn worm breathes about the same way as fish.
  • These possess an open circulatory system.
  • Asexual reproduction is not found in them.
  • In Acorn worms absence of eyes, ears, or other special sense organs, except for the ciliary organ in front of the mouth, which appears to be involved in filter-feeding and perhaps taste.
  • Acorn worms have a Y-shaped nuchal skeleton that starts their proboscis and collar on their ventral side. The length of the horns of the nuchal skeleton varies between species.
Class- Pterobranchia

Class pterobranchia shows the following features:

  • These are  small worm-shaped animals
  • They live in secreted tubes on the floor of the ocean
  •  Pterobranchia feeds by filtering plankton out of the water with the help of cilia attached to tentacles.
  • Proboscis shield-like and gill slit one pair or absent. 
  • Asexual Reproduction by budding (Sexes are separate, and one pair of gonads are found.)

 

You may also read:

Click here→Read about Blanoglossus

(source-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemichordate#Classification)

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6 Comments

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