Evidence for gill slits and a pharynx in Cambrian vetulicolians: Implications for the early evolution of deuterostomes

Ou, Qiang and Conway Morris, Simon and Han, Jian and Zhang, Zhifei and Liu, Jianni and Chen, Ailin and Zhang, Xingliang and Shu, Degan (2012) Evidence for gill slits and a pharynx in Cambrian vetulicolians: Implications for the early evolution of deuterostomes. BMC Biology, 10 (1). p. 81. ISSN 1741-7007, ESSN: 1741-7007 DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7007-10-81

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Abstract

Vetulicolians are a group of Cambrian metazoans whose distinctive bodyplan continues to present a major phylogenetic challenge. Thus, we see vetulicolians assigned to groups as disparate as deuterostomes and ecdysozoans. This divergence of opinions revolves around a strikingly arthropod-like body, but one that also bears complex lateral structures on its anterior section interpreted as pharyngeal openings. Establishing the homology of these structures is central to resolving where vetulicolians sit in metazoan phylogeny.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	2012AREP; IA64;
Subjects:	04 - Palaeobiology
Divisions:	04 - Palaeobiology 08 - Green Open Access
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Biology
Volume:	10
Page Range:	p. 81
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7007-10-81
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	05 Oct 2012 15:52
Last Modified:	29 May 2014 12:10
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/2599

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