A new species of the enigmatic marine worm
Xenoturbella, dredged from the seafloor of the western Pacific, contributes to
understanding of the early evolution of the Bilateria
Date: December
18, 2017
Source:
University of Tsukuba
Summary:
Researchers have described a new species of
the enigmatic marine worm Xenoturbella, named Xenoturbella japonica. Two specimens of this new species were
dredged from the seafloor of the western Pacific. These primitive worms,
lacking a centralized nervous system, kidneys, and anus, are important for
understanding the early evolution of the Bilateria. MicroCT scanning revealed
previously unknown structures, and molecular genomic analysis suggested that
features of this species may be ancestral to Xenoturbella. This newly
identified species is promising for further research on early bilaterian
evolution.
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