Bleidorn, C.; Helm, C.; Weigert, A.; Eeckhaut, I.; Lanterbecq, D.; Struck, T. H.; Hartmann, S.; Tiedemann, R. (2014). From morphology to phylogenomics: Placing the enigmatic Myzostomida in the tree of life. [Book section]. 161-172 In: Deep Metazoan Phylogeny: The Backbone of the Tree of Life, edited by Wägele, Wolfgang & Bartolomaeus, Thomas.
Bleidorn, C.; Helm, C.; Weigert, A.; Eeckhaut, I.; Lanterbecq, D.; Struck, T. H.; Hartmann, S.; Tiedemann, R.
2014
From morphology to phylogenomics: Placing the enigmatic Myzostomida in the tree of life
[Book section]
161-172 In: Deep Metazoan Phylogeny: The Backbone of the Tree of Life, edited by Wägele, Wolfgang & Bartolomaeus, Thomas
Publication
Myzostomida are enigmatic protostome animals and their phylogenetic position has puzzled researchers for nearly 200 years. Here we summarize the history of the classification of these animals and introduce their biology and anatomy. Synthesizing recent analyses of ultrastructural, immunohistochemical, and genomic data we show strong support for placing myzostomids within Annelida . As such, especially rare genomic changes markers like microRNA content and mitochondrial gene order strongly confirm an annelid ancestry. Due to a long history as commensals/ parasites of crinoid echinoderms, a mixture of character conditions plesiomorphic for annelids and apomorphic for myzostomids is hardly surprising and made phylogenetic studies difficult.
