Aschelminth Explained

The Aschelminthes (Aeschelminthes or Nemathelminthes), closely associated with the Platyhelminthes, are an obsolete phylum of pseudocoelomate and other similar animals that are no longer considered closely related and have been promoted to phyla in their own right. The term Aschelminth is now generally only used as an informal name for any member of the approximately ten different invertebrate phyla formerly included within Aschelminthes.

It is a polyphyletic group.^[1]

Subdivisions

Although invertebrate experts^[2] do not necessarily agree on these categorizations, groups that are generally incorporated into Aschelminthes include:

• Gastrotricha

Gnathifera

• Acanthocephala
• Gnathostomulida
• Chaetognatha
• Rotifera

Nematoidea

• Nematoda
• Nematomorpha

Scalidophora

• Kinorhyncha
• Loricifera
• Priapulida

In addition, Cycliophora, Entoprocta^[3] and Tardigrada are sometimes included.^[4]

External links

• Aschelminth information page (archived from the original on 2009-08-20)

Notes and References

1. Winnepenninckx B, Backeljau T, Mackey LY . 18S rRNA data indicate that Aschelminthes are polyphyletic in origin and consist of at least three distinct clades . Mol. Biol. Evol. . 12 . 6 . 1132–7 . November 1995 . 8524046 . 10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a040287. etal. free .
2. Web site: Introduction to the "Aschelminth" Phyla . University of California Museum of Paleontology.
3. The New View of Animal Phylogeny. Kenneth M. Halanych . Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics . 2004 . 35 . 1 . 229–256 . 10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.35.112202.130124 .
4. Book: M., Kinchin, Ian . The biology of tardigrades . 1994 . Portland Press . 1-85578-043-7 . 10 . 702705558.