BRACHIPODA

*Brachipods are bivalve lower forms which

made its appearance in the lower Cambrian
period and reached its peak of genetic
diversity during Devonian.
• They are bivalve lower forms made its
appearance in the lower Cambrian period and
reached its peak of genetic diversity during
Devonian.

• Two folds of body wall- dorsal and

ventral mantle lobes.
• There are two taxa namely articulata and
inarticulata
• Each valve consists of an inner biomineralized
layer and outer proteinaceous layer
• The space between the mantle lobes is mantle
cavity which is filled with seawater and occupied
with lophopore
• Pedicle- covered by thick chitinous cuticle ,
extended posteriorly. Pedicles of articulate and
inarticulate developed from different larval
primordial, even though they have similar function
they differ morphologically
LOPHOPHORE AND FEEDING
• Lophophore- crown of hollow tentacles encircling
the mouth. Specialized feeding and respiratory
organ of brachipoda
• In some species in order to increase surface area
lophophore is extended anteriorly as two arms -
brachia - from which name is derived.
• In large species arms may be looped spiraled etc in
order to increase surface area.
PHYLOGENY
• It is a monophyletic group which is divided into
articulate and inarticulate based on presence or
absence of articular structure along hinge region
• Before the emergence of molecular biology- sister
or paraphyletic stem group of deuterostomia
• After the emergence of molecular biology- we
found that there is a great affinity towards
ectoprocta and phoronida
• They also exhibit some similarities with molluscs
and and annelida
Affinities with ectoprocta
• Presence of coelomic septum between mesocoel
and metacoel
• U shaped alimentary canal
• Bivalve shell of cyphonautes larva of ectoprocta is
similar to the shell of the brachipods
Affinities with phoronida
• Epistome representing anterior segment of the
body.
• Presence of sub epidermal nerve plexus.
• A pair of metanephridia in the metacoel acting also
as gonoducts
• Mouth is derived directly from blastopore
• The dorsal surface between mouth and anus
becomes greatly shortened
Affinities with molluscs
• Presence of the bivalve shell, and mantle lobe
surrounding the body
• Trochophore like larval forms of brachipoda
• But they differ in peduncle, arms , interior
organization and embryology
Affinities with annelida
• Segmentation of the body
• Presence of setae
• Presence of metanephridia which also act as
gonoduct
• Larval forms of brachipoda resembles trochophore
ONYCHOPHORA
Super phylum :
Panarthropoda
Phylum
* Arthropda
* Onychophora
* Tardigrada
It is a monophyletic group
• Segmented body
• Presence of mandibles on second head segment
• Oral papillae with slime glands on the third head
segment
• Widely spaced ventral nerve cords connected by
numerous segmental commissures and tufted
trachea
• Onychophora probably arose as an exclusively
terrestrial line descended from Cambrian
panarthropod ancestors
PHYLOGENY
• It is a monophyletic taxon
• They have morphological characters that
argue for close relationship for both
annelids and arthropods , but ties with
arthropods most
• There are annelids like, arthropods like
and common characters shared with
both
Affinities with annelids
• Body wall muscles is continuous,
uninterrupted unspecialized sheets
• Thin, flexible cuticle which lack
sclerotized plates
• Worm like body
• A distinct head is present
• Simple brain lacking segmental
neuromeres
• Weak tagmosis
• Simple eye , antennae are annulated and
unsegmented.
• Each trunk segments bears a pair of conical,
fleshy , unsegmented legs. Each leg is a
hollow outgrowth of the body wall.
• Nephridia are the excretory organ
• Ciliated reproductive ducts are present.
 Affinities with arthropods
• Exoskeleton with ecdysis,alpha chitin, and non
collagenous protein.
• Coelom reduced to gonadal and nephridial spaces
• Open hemal system with an ostiate heart
• Hemocoel divided by horizontal septum into
pericardial and perivisceral sinuses- specialized for
feeding, respiration via trachea, and superficial
cleavage.
• Antennae are present
• Internal segmental septa are absent
• Mandibles and salivary glands are present.
• Heart is dorsal and tubular. It bears a pair of ostiain each
segment.
• Each turnk appendages ( legs ) carries a pair of claws
• Trachea are the respiratory tubules.
• Reproductive system consists of a pair of reproductive organs,
reproductive tracts and a single hind reproductive openings
• Cleavage of the zygote is spiral
Affinities with both annelids and
arthropods
• Segmented body
• Paired segmental appendages
• Paired segmental metanephridia or their
derivatives
• Ladder like nervous system
• Dorsal brain and ventral ganglionated double nerve
cord