Further Structures in the Jaw Apparatus of Limnognathia maerski (Micrognathozoa), with Notes on the Phylogeny of the Gnathifera

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The jaws of Limnognathia maerski, Micrognathozoa, were investigated with light- and scanning electron microscopy. The study yielded several new structures and sclerites, including the ventral part of main jaw, the pharyngeal lamellae, the manus, the dorsal and ventral fibularium teeth, and a reinterpretation of the fibularium compartmentalization. Furthermore, it was shown that several jaw elements are composed of densely packed rods. Comparison with Rotifera and Gnathostomulida suggested that the micrognathozoan main jaw is homologous with the rotifer incus and the gnathostomulid articularium and that the pseudophalangids (the ventral jaws) and their associated sclerites correspond to the rotifer mallei. These results imply that Micrognathozoa is more closely related to Rotifera than to Gnathostomulida. J. Morphol.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Morphology
Volume255
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)131-145
Number of pages15
ISSN0362-2525
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003

    Research areas

  • Gnathifera, Jaws, Morphology, Phylogeny, Taxonomy

ID: 221746736