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Phoronids
Phoronids ( taxonomic name Phoronida, sometimes called horseshoe worms) are a small phylum of marine animals that filter-feed with a lophophore (a "crown" of tentacles), and build upright tubes of chitin to support and protect their soft bodies. They live in most of the oceans and seas, including the Arctic Ocean but excluding the Antarctic Ocean, and between the intertidal zone and about 400 meters down. Most adult phoronids are 2 cm long and about 1.5 mm wide, although the largest are 50 cm long. The name of the group comes from its type genus: '' Phoronis''. Overview The bottom end of the body is an ampulla (a flask-like swelling), which anchors the animal in the tube and enables it to retract its body very quickly when threatened. When the lophophore is extended at the top of the body, cilia (little hairs) on the sides of the tentacles draw food particles to the mouth, which is inside and slightly to one side of the base of the lophophore. Unwanted m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phoronis
''Phoronis'' is one of the two genus, genera of the horseshoe worm family (Phoronidae), in the phylum (biology), phylum Phoronida. The body has two sections, each with its own coelom. There is a specialist feeding structure, the lophophore, which is an extension of the wall of the coelom and is surrounded by tentacles. The gut is U-shaped. The diagnostic feature that distinguishes this genus is the lack of epidermal invagination at the base of the lophophore. These worms are filter feeders. They live on hard substrates or soft sediments in marine environments throughout the world. They have different modes of reproduction which help with their success. The scientific name of the larval form is ''Actinotrocha''. Etymology The generic name (biology), generic name refers to Phoronis (Io), Phoronis (better known as Io), a Greek mythological character sometimes conflated with Isis. Thomas Strethill Wright, of Edinburgh, did not give a specific reason for choosing the name. Species * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
