A new phylum from the lobster's lips

Article Abstract:

A new phylum, Cycliophora, of metazoans called Symbion pandora is one of the significant zoological discoveries of the 1990s. A remarkable feature of this discovery by zoologist R.M. Kristensen is that the phylum was found attached to the mouth parts and appendages of the Norwegian lobster, including specimens from the Kattegat straits. The animal is epizoic and small with a sac-like body. An adhesive disk enables it to attach to the host lobster and an anterior funnel with a ring of cilia gives it access to food. The mouth and anus are closely placed on the upper part of the body.

Discovery and exploration, Metazoa, Metazoans, Zoology

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A molecular evolutionary framework for the phylum Nematoda

Article Abstract:

Difficulties in identifying nematodes and the lack of fossil records have stopped researchers from being able to determine how nematodes evolved. However, researchers have used 53 subunit ribosomal DNA sequences from a variety of nematodes in order to compare parasitic and free-living nematodes. The results suggest that both types may have evolved convergently and current classifications of the Nematoda may have to be re-examined. Animal parasites evolved independently about four times while plant parasites evolved separately three times.

Research and Testing Services, Scientific Research and Development Services, Research & Development-Universities, Evolution (Biology), Origin of species, Nematoda, Nematodes, University research

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Relations of the new phylum Cycliophora

Article Abstract:

The lack of morphological data for the Cycliophoran Symbion pandora means that the precise nature of its phylogenetic relationships remains controversial. A new study of Symbion pandora found on the mouthparts of Nephrops norvegicus, the Norway lobster, includes a phylogenetic analysis of 18S ribosomal RNA sequence data. The analysis places Symbion in a lophophorate-aschelminth-protostome clade and supports its separate status as a Cycliophora.

Phylogeny

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