It resembles earthworm in shape. Like a long worm, its body is cylindrical. This species is known as Acorn Worm. This is also known as tongue worm.
Is Balanoglossus Unsegmented?
Acorn worms are unsegmented worms belonging to the phylum Hemichordata. Balanoglossus is an ocean-dwelling acorn worm genus. It is considered to be an evolutionary link between invertebrates and vertebrates.
What is the name of Balanoglossus larva?
So, the correct answer is ‘Tornaria’
What is meant Balanoglossus?
Definition of Balanoglossus
: a genus of marine burrowing wormlike animals that because of certain vertebratelike characters are not usually classed as chordates and made with certain closely related forms (such as Dolichoglossus) to constitute an order (Enteropneusta) of the Hemichorda.
What is the tongue worm common name?
Linguatula serrata, the so-called tongue worm, is a worm-like, bloodsucking parasite belonging to the Pentastomida group.
Which animal is called as tongue worm?
Members of the genus Linguatula, also known as tongue worms due to their resemblance to the mammalian tongue, are obligate arthropod parasites which inhabit the upper respiratory tract of canids such as domestic dogs, foxes and wolves.
What is proboscis in Balanoglossus?
Proboscis gland- In balanoglossus, the excretory organ is the glomerulus or proboscis, which is located in front of the central sinus and protrudes throughout the proboscis coelom. The coelomic mass of the protrusion of the stem complex is considered a secretory organ.
How is Balanoglossus?
Solution. Balanoglossus is considered a connecting link between chordates and non chordates because it shows characteristics which are present in both the phylums. For example, Balanoglossus shows the presence of notochord and pharyngeal gill slits which is a characteristic feature of chordates.
Why does Balanoglossus belong to phylum Hemichordata?
Note: Balanoglossus is an acorn worm and evolutionary link of invertebrates and vertebrates as a hemichordata. Balanoglossus is a deuterostome, which is similar to Ascidian or marine squirts in that it has branch openings or gill slits. In the upper part of the body it has notochord and has no chord of its nerve.
What is tornaria larva of Balanoglossus?
A tornaria is the planktonic larva of some species of Hemichordata such as the acorn worms. It is very similar in appearance to the bipinnaria larvae of starfishes, with convoluted bands of cilia running around the body.
