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Dicyemids are higher animals

Author

Listed:
  • Mari Kobayashi

    (School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights
    Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University)

  • Hidetaka Furuya

    (Graduate School of Science, Osaka University)

  • Peter W.H. Holland

    (School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights)

Abstract

Dicyemids, which are microscopic parasites of squids and octopuses, have among the simplest body plans of all multicellular animals. They lack body cavities and almost all the organs that characterize animals, such as a gut or nervous system, and their development proceeds without germ layers and gastrulation. The adult body consists of a solitary axial cell surrounded by a single layer of 10–40 ciliated outer cells. Here we use information from Hox gene sequences to investigate the phylogenetic affinities of dicyemids, and conclude that dicyemids are lophotrochozoans that have secondarily lost many morphological characters, so the simplicity of their body plan is not a primitive condition.

Suggested Citation

  • Mari Kobayashi & Hidetaka Furuya & Peter W.H. Holland, 1999. "Dicyemids are higher animals," Nature, Nature, vol. 401(6755), pages 762-762, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:401:y:1999:i:6755:d:10.1038_44513
    DOI: 10.1038/44513
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