Xenoturbella japonica

Xenoturbella japonica
X. japonica holotype female. The white arrowhead indicates the ring furrow.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Xenacoelomorpha
Family:	Xenoturbellidae
Genus:	Xenoturbella
Species:	X. japonica
Binomial name
Xenoturbella japonica Nakano, Miyazawa, Maeno, Shiroishi, Kakui, Koyanagi, Kanda, Satoh, Omori & Kohtsuka, 2018

Longitudinal section of a congeneric species, Xenoturbella bocki

Xenoturbella japonica is a marine benthic worm-like species that belongs to the genus Xenoturbella . It has been discovered in western Pacific Ocean by a group of Japanese scientists from the University of Tsukuba. The species was described in 2017 in a study published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology , ^[1] and amended in 2018. ^[2]

Xenoturbella japonica is known for lacking respiratory, circulatory and excretory systems. ^{[3] [4] [1]}

Description

The etymology of the species name corresponds to the locality where the specimens were sampled.

Xenoturbella japonica is 5.3 cm (2.1 in) in length, with a pale orange colouration. The body wall displays ring and side furrows. The mouth is orientated ventrally, just anterior to the ring furrow. The live specimen exhibits a conspicuous ventral epidermal glandular network. ^[1] Tissues contain exogenous DNA corresponding to bivalve mollusks, the vesicomyid Acila castrensis and Nucula nucleus . ^[1]

Phylogeny

Comparison of mitochondrial DNA and protein sequences showed that the species Xenoturbella japonica is the sister group to X. bocki and X. hollandorum into a clade of 'shallow-water' taxa.

Species-level cladogram of the genus Xenoturbella.

Xenacoelomorpha      Acoelomorpha      Xenoturbella      'Shallow' clade               X. japonica             X. bocki   X. hollandorum   'Deep' clade               X. monstrosa             X. churro   X. profunda

The cladogram has been reconstructed from mitochondrial DNA and protein sequences. [5] [1]

Other facts

Taxonomic Classification and Unique Morphology

Xenoturbella japonica belongs to the genus Xenoturbella, which has its traits as simple organisms with simple body structures and lack complex organs such as brain, lungs, gut or excretory organs. There has been a recent debate about in location in the phylogenetic tree. Recent research suggests it belongs to the clade Xenacoelomorpha having close evolutionary relationships with early bilaterians. ^[6]

Evolutionary Significance in Understanding Bilaterian Origins

Xenoturbella japonica  stands out as a better path to understanding the evolution of the evolution of bilaterians, a group that includes most multicellular animals with bilateral symmetry. ^[7]

Genetic Analysis and Ancestral Traits

Genetic analysis of Xenoturbella japonica reveal unique genetic relationship with the other Xenacoelomorpha species, indicating that it an early-diverging bilaterian. This is important for scientists and interested parties on clues about the earliest stages of animal evolution. ^[1]

References

1. Nakano, Hiroaki; Miyazawa, Hideyuki; Maeno, Akiteru; Shiroishi, Toshihiko; Kakui, Keiichi; Koyanagi, Ryo; Kanda, Miyuki; Satoh, Noriyuki; Omori, Akihito; Kohtsuka, Hisanori (2017). "A new species of Xenoturbella from the western Pacific Ocean and the evolution of Xenoturbella". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 17 (1): 245. doi: 10.1186/s12862-017-1080-2 . PMC   5733810 . PMID   29249199.
2. Nakano, Hiroaki; Miyazawa, Hideyuki; Maeno, Akiteru; Shiroishi, Toshihiko; Kakui, Keiichi; Koyanagi, Ryo; Kanda, Miyuki; Satoh, Noriyuki; Omori, Akihito; Kohtsuka, Hisanori (2018-06-07). "Correction to: A new species of Xenoturbella from the western Pacific Ocean and the evolution of Xenoturbella". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 18 (1): 83. doi: 10.1186/s12862-018-1190-5 . ISSN   1471-2148. PMC   5991446 . PMID   29879905.
3. Georgiou, Aristo (19 December 2017). "Mysterious new deep-sea species with no anus sheds light on early evolution". International Business Times . Retrieved 28 December 2017.
4. "Mysterious new seafloor species sheds light on early animal evolution". Phys.org . 19 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
5. Rouse, Greg W.; Wilson, Nerida G.; Carvajal, Jose I.; Vrijenhoek, Robert C. (2016-02-04). "New deep-sea species of Xenoturbella and the position of Xenacoelomorpha" . Nature. 530 (7588): 94–97. Bibcode:2016Natur.530...94R. doi:10.1038/nature16545. ISSN   0028-0836. PMID   26842060. S2CID   3870574.
6. Starr, Michelle (20 December 2017). "These Deep Sea Worms Without Butts Likely Haven't Evolved For Millions of Years". Science Alert. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
7. WoRMS (2024). "Xenoturbella japonica Nakano, Miyazawa, Maeno, Shiroishi, Kakui, Koyanagi, Kanda, Satoh, Omori & Kohtsuka, 2018". WORMS. Retrieved 2 November 2024.

External links

• Media related to Xenoturbella japonica at Wikimedia Commons