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.
What are the characteristics of Balanoglossus?
General characters of Balanoglossus includes:
It is also called as ocean-dwelling acorn worm.It is a is a deuterostome.It belongs to class Enteropneusta of Hemichrodata phylum.It is a burrowing worm-like marine animal.Body is made up of proboscis, collar and trunk.
Is Balanoglossus a deuterostome?
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.
Why Balanoglossus is considered as an invertebrate chordate?
Dorsal heart is found in non-chordates. Balanoglossus also bears a dorsal heart. That’s why Balanoglossus have some characteristics of chordates as well as non-chordates. Hence it is the connecting link between chordates and non-chordates.
What is the meaning of 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 habit and habitat of Balanoglossus?
Balanoglossus is a burrowing and exclusively marine animal. It is found in shallow waters between tide marks along the coast of warm and temperate oceans. Balanoglossus is world-wide in distribution. Balanoglossus is tubicolous living in U-shaped burrows excavated in the sandy bottom.
Why Balanoglossus is considered as connecting link between non chordates and chordates?
Balanoglossus is considered a connecting link between chordates and non chordates because it shows characteristics which are present in both the phyla. For example, Balanoglossus shows the presence of notochord and pharyngeal gill slits which is a characteristic feature of chordates.
Is Balanoglossus a Cephalochordata?
Additional information: Previously balanoglossus was classified under phylum Hemichordata which was considered as the subphylum under Chordata. But now Hemichordata is considered as a separate phylum under Non-Chordata.
Which type of Fertilisation is found in Balanoglossus?
Fertilization will take place in water. It is called external fertilization. The fertilized zygote will undergo holoblastic clevage. In Balanoglossus kowaiowsley the development is direct.
Is Balanoglossus a Coelomate?
Balanoglossus possesses a spacious coelom. The coelom is enterocoelous in origin and is lined by coelomic peritoneum. The original cavity of the coelom is greatly reduced by the presence of fibrous network and muscle fibres.
Is Balanoglossus a vertebrate?
Balanoglossus is considered as a connecting link between chordates and non-chordates. Q. All vertebrates are chordates. But all chordates are not vertebrates.
What is the name of larval stage of Balanoglossus?
So, the correct answer is ‘Tornaria’
