Phoronopsis is a genus of horseshoe worm in the family Phoronidae, in the phylum Phoronida. The members of the genus live in tubes at the bottom of the sea.
| Phoronopsis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Phoronida |
| Family: | Phoronidae |
| Genus: | Phoronopsis Gilchrist, 1907[1] |
| Type species | |
| Phoronopsis albomaculata Gilchrist, 1907[1]
| |
Characteristics edit
Like other phoronids, members of this genus are benthic filter feeders with a worm-like body encased in a loosely fitting chitinous tube. The tube is buried in the substrate, and the worm is anchored to the tube by an ampulla, the swollen part of its abdomen. The genus is characterised by the epidermis folding under itself at the collar beneath the lophophore (feeding organ). This distinguishes it from the genus Phoronis. The gut is U-shaped, with the anus close to the mouth. The larval form, found in the zooplankton, is known as an "actinotroch".[2][3]
Distribution edit
The distribution is global.
Species edit
- Phoronopsis albomaculata Gilchrist, 1907
- Phoronopsis californica Hilton, 1930
- Phoronopsis harmeri Pixell, 1912[4] (possible synonym[5] Phoronopsis malakhovi Temereva, 2000[6])
A 2018 phylogenetic analysis indicates that Phoronopsis is a monophyletic genus, while Phoronis is paraphyletic.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b Gilchrist, J. D. F. (1907). "New Forms of the Hemichoedata From South Africa". Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 17: 153–157. doi:10.1080/21560382.1907.9526087; Pl. 16, Fig. 2.
{{cite journal}}: External link in|postscript= - ^ World Register of Marine Species: Phoronida
- ^ Phoronida
- ^ World Register of Marine Species
- ^ Phoronopsis harmeri. Phoronida.
- ^ Temereva, E.N. (2000). "New phoronid species Phoronopsis malakhovi (Lophophorata, Phoronida) from the south China Sea". Zoologicheskii Zhurnal (in Russian). 79 (9): 1088–1093.
- ^ Temereva, E. N.; Neklyudov, B. V. (2018). A New Phoronid Species, Phoronis savinkini sp. n., from the South China Sea and an Analysis of the Taxonomic Diversity of Phoronida. Biology Bulletin. 45(7): 617-639. doi:10.1134/s1062359018070154