New data from an enigmatic phylum: evidence from molecular sequence data supports a sister-group relationship between Loricifera and Nematomorpha
Loricifera is one of the most recently discovered animal phyla. So far, the group has been considered closely related to Kinorhyncha and Priapulida, and assigned to the ecdysozoan clade Cycloneuralia. Using Bayesian inference, we present the first phylogeny that includes 18S rRNA and Histone 3 seque...
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Published in | Journal of zoological systematics and evolutionary research Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 231 - 239 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Oxford, UK
Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd
01.08.2008
Blackwell Publishing Ltd Hindawi Limited |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Loricifera is one of the most recently discovered animal phyla. So far, the group has been considered closely related to Kinorhyncha and Priapulida, and assigned to the ecdysozoan clade Cycloneuralia. Using Bayesian inference, we present the first phylogeny that includes 18S rRNA and Histone 3 sequences from two species of Loricifera. Intriguingly, we find support for a sister-group relationship between Loricifera and Nematomorpha. Such relationship has not been suggested previously and the results imply that a revision of our conception of early ecdysozoan evolution is required. Additionally, the data suggest that evolution through progenesis (sexual maturation of larvae) may have played an important role among the ancestral cycloneuralians. |
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Bibliography: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0469.2008.00478.x ark:/67375/WNG-5J7HDWK4-C ArticleID:JZS478 istex:8D49AD355AD69568E327F4D4030B5CB0F35CBBC6 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0947-5745 1439-0469 |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2008.00478.x |