Convolutidae is a family of acoels, belonging to the phylum Xenacoelomorpha. This family contains more than a third of all known acoel species.[2][3]

Convolutidae
Temporal range: Middle Triassic–Recent [1]
Flatworm-like Waminoa sp. on Plerogyra sp.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Xenacoelomorpha
Order: Acoela
Superfamily: Aberrantospermata
Family: Convolutidae
Graff, 1905
Synonyms
  • Anaperidae Dörjes, 1968
  • Sagittiferidae Kostenko & Mamkaev, 1990

Description

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Neochildia fusca

The family Convolutidae includes acoels with a ventral mouth opening and a body-wall musculature composed both dorsally and ventrally by circular, longitudinal, and longitudinal crossover muscle fibers. The ventral body wall also has a group of U-shaped fibers.[2] Most species are symbionts with algae.[2] The anterior end has a cluster of frontal glands, a pair of eyes and a statocyst. The body has pigmented lens. Intestine and excretory system is absent. It is hermaphrodite but protandry is common.

Taxonomy

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Genera

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There are 26 genera in the family Convolutidae, of which 25 are extant.[4][5] The type genus is Convoluta.

Species

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There are over 100 species recognised in the family Convolutidae:[4]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Knaust, Dirk (2021-10-07). "A microbialite with its entombed benthic community from the Middle Triassic (Anisian-Ladinian) Muschelkalk Group of Germany". Palaeontographica Abteilung A. 320 (1–3): 1–63. doi:10.1127/pala/2021/0114. ISSN 0375-0442.
  2. ^ a b c d Hooge, M. D.; Tyler, S. (2005). "New tools for resolving phylogenies: a systematic revision of the Convolutidae (Acoelomorpha, Acoela)". Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 43 (2): 100–113. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0469.2005.00301.x. ISSN 0947-5745.
  3. ^ Turbellarian taxonomic database[permanent dead link], 2006.
  4. ^ a b Seth Tyler (2010). "Convolutidae". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  5. ^ Nilsson, K.S., Wallberg, A., & Jondelius, U. (2011). "New species of Acoela from the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the South Pacific." Zootaxa 2867: 1-31.