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Type: Article
Published: 2007-12-21
Page range: 245–264
Abstract views: 557
PDF downloaded: 5

Annelida*

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla CA, 92093-0202, USA
Department of Marine Ecology, Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory, Göteborg University, SE-452 96 Strömstad, Sweden
Annelida Polychaeta Oligochaeta Clitellata Echiura Pogonophora Vestimentifera Sipuncula phylogeny review

Abstract

The first annelids were formally described by Linnaeus (1758) and we here briefly review the history and composition of the group. The traditionally recognized classes were Polychaeta, Oligochaeta and Hirudinea. The latter two are now viewed as the taxon Clitellata, since recognizing Hirudinea with class rank renders Oligochaeta paraphyletic. Polychaeta appears to contain Clitellata, and so may be synonymous with Annelida. Current consensus would place previously recognized phyla such as Echiura, Pogonophora, Sipuncula and Vestimentifera as annelids, though relationships among these and the various other annelid lineages are still unresolved.

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