Branchiostoma bennetti

Branchiostoma bennetti, the mud lancelet, is a lancelet of the genus Branchiostoma endemic to the Gulf of Mexico, where it is found in the northern part.

Branchiostoma bennetti
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Leptocardii
Order: Amphioxiformes
Family: Branchiostomidae
Genus: Branchiostoma
Species:
B. bennetti
Binomial name
Branchiostoma bennetti
Boschung & Gunter, 1966 [1]

Description

Like other lancelets in the genus Branchiostoma, B. bennetti occurs in inshore waters where it burrows into sand or muddy sand at depths down to about 12 m (40 ft). The body is laterally flattened and pointed at both ends. It has a long dorsal fin and another fin on its ventral surface, and a caudal fin at the rear end.[2] B. bennetti differs from other western Atlantic lancelets for having the longest buccal cirri among them. These cirri are further unique in this region because of their extended lateral projections. [3]It is presumed that these unique buccal cirri are an adaptation to living in a muddier habitat than other species. [3]

References

  1. Nishikawa, Teruaki (2015). "Branchiostoma bennetti Boschung & Gunter, 1966". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  2. Felder, Darryl L. (2009). Gulf of Mexico Origin, Waters, and Biota: Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press. pp. 1205–1207. ISBN 978-1-60344-269-5.
  3. Boschung, Herbert T.; Gunter, Gordon (1966). "A New Species of Lancelet, Branchiostoma bennetti (Order Amphioxi), from Louisiana". Copeia. 1966 (3): 485–489. doi:10.2307/1441070. ISSN 0045-8511. JSTOR 1441070.


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