Convolutidae
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Amphiscolops |
Convolutidae are a family of free-living flatworms.
[edit] Systematics
Currently the family contains 13 genera, the type genus being Convoluta (Turbellarian taxonomic database,2006).
The genus Waminoa appears, according to recent studies also belong to the family, or is at least closely related (Ogunlana et al, 2005).
[edit] Characteristics
Acoels with a ventral mouth opening. Body-wall musculature with circular, longitudinal, and longitudinal crossover muscle fibers in both the dorsal and ventral body wall, and U-shaped fibers in the ventral body wall.
Male copulatory organ with muscular, often glandular, tubular penis. Penis musculature with inner circular fibers and outer longitudinal fibers that anastomose or cross over each other. When present, a muscular seminal vesicle surrounds all of, or a portion of the penis. Male gonopore ventral, subterminal, or terminal at posterior end; usually positioned behind opening to female seminal bursa. Spermatozoa with 9+0 axonemes and axial microtubules.
Algal symbionts often present. Ocelli, when present, contain reflective platelets in the pigment cell and lack cilia or microvilli as receptor organelles (Hooge & Tyler, 2005).
[edit] Sources
- Turbellarian taxonomic database online [1]
- Hooge MD, Tyler S "New tools for resolving phylogenies: A systematic revision of the Convolutidae (Acoelomorpha, Acoela)" J Systemat Evol Res 43: 100-113, 2005
- Ogunlana, M,V, Hooge, M.D, Tekle,Y.I, Benayahu,Y, Barneah,O, Tyler,S. "Waminoa brickneri n. sp. (Acoela: Acoelomorpha) associated with corals in the Red Sea", Zootaxa 1008:1 - 2005
