Yoda purpurata is a species of acorn worm discovered 2.5 km (about 1.5 miles) below the surface of the Atlantic ocean, and was the first of the genus Yoda found. Ranging from 12 to 19 cm (4.7 to 7.5 in) in length, it was named after the fictional character Yoda from the Star Wars franchise.[1][2] It was the first known hermaphroditic member within the phylum.[3] The other known hermaphroditic member of the phylum is Yoda demiankoopi[4] discovered in 2021.

Yoda purpurata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Hemichordata
Class: Enteropneusta
Order: Enteropneusta
Family: Torquaratoridae
Genus: Yoda
Priede et al. 2012
Species:
Y. purpurata
Binomial name
Yoda purpurata
Priede et al. 2012

Even if both male and female sex organs are present, the different individuals are acting as either male or female, not both, which makes them sequential hermaphrodites, alternating between male and female over the course of their lives.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Newly Discovered Acorn Worm Named After Yoda, retrieved 2012-10-06 18:05 UTC
  2. ^ Priede, Imants G.; Osborn, Karen J.; Gebruk, Andrey V.; Jones, Dan; Shale, David; Rogacheva, Antonina; Holland, Nicholas D. (2012). "Observations on torquaratorid acorn worms (Hemichordata, Enteropneusta) from the North Atlantic with descriptions of a new genus and three new species" (PDF). Invertebrate Biology. 131 (3): 244–257. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7410.2012.00266.x. ISSN 1077-8306.
  3. ^ Priede, Imants G. (2012). "Observations on torquaratorid acorn worms (Hemichordata, Enteropneusta) from the North Atlantic with descriptions of a new genus and three new species" (PDF). Invertebrate Biology. 131 (3): 244–257. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7410.2012.00266.x.
  4. ^ Holland, Nicholas D.; Hiley, Avery S.; Rouse, Greg W. (September 2022). "A new species of deep-sea torquaratorid enteropneust (Hemichordata): A sequential hermaphrodite with exceptionally wide lips". Invertebrate Biology. 141 (3). doi:10.1111/ivb.12379.
  5. ^ The Hermaphrodite at the Bottom of the Sea - Nautilus Magazine
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