Phylogenetic position of the pentastomida and [pan]crustacean relationships
Pentastomids are a small group of vermiform animals with unique morphology and parasitic lifestyle. They are generally recognized as being related to the Arthropoda, however the nature of this relationship is controversial. We have determined the complete sequence of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the pentastomid Armillifer armillatus and complete, or nearly complete, mtDNA sequences from representatives of four previously unsampled groups of Crustacea: Remipedia (Speleonectes tulumensis), Cephalocarida (Hutchinsoniella macracantha), Cirripedia (Pollicipes polymerus), and Branchiura (Argulus americanus). Analyses of the mtDNA gene arrangements and sequences determined in this study indicate unambiguously that pentastomids are a group of modified crustaceans likely related to branchiurans. In addition, gene arrangement comparisons strongly support an unforeseen assemblage of pentastomids with maxillopod and cephalocarid crustaceans, to the exclusion of remipedes, branchiopods, malacos tracans and insects.
- Research Organization:
- Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US) (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Director. Office of Science. Office of Biological and Environmental Research; National Science Foundation Grants DEB-9807100 and DEB 9972712 (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 833698
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL-53613; R&D Project: LWEGLS; TRN: US200430%%1744
- Journal Information:
- Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, Vol. 271, Issue 1538; Other Information: Journal Publication Date: 03/07/2004; PBD: 31 Jan 2004
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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