The Aschelminthes (also known as Aeschelminthes, Nemathelminthes, Nematodes), 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:
- Acanthocephala
- Chaetognatha
- Cycliophora
- Gastrotricha
- Kinorhyncha
- Loricifera
- Nematoda
- Nematomorpha
- Priapulida
- Rotifera
In addition, Entoprocta and Tardigrada are sometimes included.
References
- ^ Winnepenninckx B, Backeljau T, Mackey LY, et al. (November 1995). "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. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a040287. PMID 8524046.
- ^ "Introduction to the "Aschelminth" Phyla". University of California Museum of Paleontology.
External links
- Aschelminth information page (archived from the original on 2009-08-20)