Excretory and Reproductive System of Branchiostoma 

Gametes of Branchiostoma

In Branchiostoma primary excretion occur through nephridia, the nephridia in Branchiostoma is ectodermal in origin. In higher Chordate primary excretory organ is kidneys and it is mesodermal origin but in the case of Branchiostoma, it is ectodermal.   Protonephridia:  On the dorsolateral wall of the pharyngeal region around 100 protonephridia are present on either side of … Read more

Respiratory and Reproductive System of Branchiostoma 

blood vascular system of Amphioxus and in Higher Animals

Respiratory System of Branchiostoma:  In Branchiostoma respiration occur through the general surface area of metapleural folds, atrial wall, pharyngeal wall. The blood vessels present on the body wall and the oxygen present in the water current come close contact and gaseous exchange take place. The gill slits and gill bars have no special arrangements of … Read more

Digestion and Feeding Mechanism in Branchiostoma  

Digestion in Branchiostoma:  In Branchiostoma the alimentary canal is complete and it has associated glands to perform the digestion process.  Digestive Glands In Branchiostoma:  On the ventral side the at the junction of the esophagus and midgut a blind sac tubular structure arises and extends in a forward direction on the right side into the … Read more

Coelom and Movement in Branchiostoma 

movement and locomotion in Branchiostoma

Coelom in Branchiostoma:  In Branchiostoma the body cavity is true coelom and the coelom is lined by mesodermal tissue.  In Branchiostoma the coelom originate during embryonic development from the archenteron, so in Branchiostoma coelom is enterocoelous type.  The body cavity or the cavity inside the coelom is filled with lymph like fluid.  The coelom surround … Read more

Body Wall and Endoskeleton of Branchiostoma  

Notochord in Branchiostoma

The body wall in Branchiostoma have three layers, from outside to inside the three layers are the outermost skin layer, middle muscular layer and inner parietal peritoneum. Skin:  It is the outermost thin delicate layer, this layer is made of a single layer of columnar epithelium cells. The columnar epithelium cells present on the basement … Read more

External Morphology of Branchiostoma  

External Morphology of Branchiostoma: Myotomes in Amphioxus

Shape of Branchiostoma:  Branchiostoma has a lance-like shape, both anterior and posterior end of the body tapering and pointed. But the posterior end is more tapering than the anterior part, the lance-like shape makes them famous in the common name Lancelets. The body is laterally compressed and this lance-like streamlined body makes them suitable for … Read more

Branchiostoma Habitat and Geographical Distribution  

Branchiostoma lanceolatum Amphioxus

What is Branchiostoma(=Amphioxus):  It is a marine almost fish-like small animal under Subphylum Chephalochordata. They are considered simplified Chordata because they have all the three fundamental Chordate characters, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal gill slits, and notochord.   In previously Branchiostoma (=Amphioxus) was placed under Mollusca but later it was placed under Subphylum Chephalochordata, which is … Read more

Subphylum Urochordata: Characteristics Classification Examples 

ascidia

Characteristics Features of Subphylum Urochordata:  They live in marine water, almost present in all part of the world and in deep ocean as well as in shallow coastal areas.  They can live in solitary state, sometimes large number of Urochordate live in groups in solitary state, some of them show colonial form.  They are generally … Read more

Examples of Subphylum Urochordata

pyrosomes member of Urochordata

Ascidia:  It is solitary Urochordate generally live in groups on the rocks, it presents in sedentary state and lives in all depth of the ocean, have great similarity with Herdmania. Size is more than other Urochordate as compared to other members of Subphylum Urochordata, around 10 cm to 15 cm long.  It is cylindrical in … Read more