Animal Phyla/Gnathostomulida
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Gnathostomulida Name Meaning: Jaw orifice English Common Name: Jaw worms Major distinguishing characteristics: Approximate number of species described: about 300
Natural History[edit | edit source]
Jaw worms are all aquatic and marine. They live in the sand and mud in shallow coastal waters.
Taxonomy[edit | edit source]
There are two recognized orders within the Phylum Gnathostomulida.
- Filospermoidea
- Bursovaginoidea
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The powerfully jawed mouth is just behind the head end and opens into a blind-ending tube. There is no anus. They have no circulatory or respiratory system.
They are hermaphroditic, with one ovary and two testes.
The Fossil Record[edit | edit source]
There is no known fossil record.
Quiz[edit | edit source]
References and Further Reading[edit | edit source]
- [Gnathostumulida] at Wikipedia
- Gnathostumulida at Tree of Life
- Gnathostumulida at Encyclopedia of Life