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The evolution of the pelagic alciopid and phyllodocid polychaetes.
Author(s) -
Dales R. Phillips
Publication year - 1955
Publication title -
proceedings of the zoological society of london
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0370-2774
DOI - 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1955.tb00607.x
Subject(s) - pelagic zone , biology , zoology , phylogenetic tree , evolutionary biology , mechanism (biology) , anatomy , ecology , philosophy , biochemistry , epistemology , gene
SUMMARY The morphological adaptations of the alciopid and lopadorhynchine polychaetes for a pelagic mode of life are compared, with particular reference to the organs concerned with feeding and reproduction. Both groups are predatory, but feed in different ways; Lopadorhynchus has poorly‐developed eyes but long cirri, anterior segments modified for grasping, and large pharyn‐geal glands; alciopids have large eyes and the most advanced have long eversible proboscides. Many alciopids have evolved a copulatory mechanism whereby the sperm are transfered to the female which stores them in receptacula until required. The phylogenetic relationships of the different genera are briefly described.