The phylogenetic position of Rhopalura ophiocomae (Orthonectida) based on 18S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis |
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Authors: | Hanelt B; Van Schyndel D; Adema CM; Lewis LA; Loker ES |
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Institution: | Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131, USA. |
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Abstract: | The Orthonectida is a small, poorly known phylum of parasites of marine
invertebrates. Their phylogenetic placement is obscure; they have been
considered to be multicellular protozoans, primitive animals at a
"mesozoan" grade of organization, or secondarily simplified flatworm- like
organisms. The best known species in the phylum, Rhopalura ophiocomae, was
collected on San Juan Island, Wash. and a complete 18S rDNA sequence was
obtained. Using the models of minimum evolution and parsimony, phylogenetic
analyses were undertaken and the results lend support to the following
hypotheses about orthonectids: (1) orthonectids are more closely aligned
with triploblastic metazoan taxa than with the protist or diploblastic
metazoan taxa considered in this analysis; (2) orthonectids are not derived
members of the phylum Platyhelminthes; and (3) orthonectids and rhombozoans
are not each other's closest relatives, thus casting further doubt on the
validity of the phylum Mesozoa previously used to encompass both groups.
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