Xenoturbella bocki exhibits direct development with similarities to Acoelomorpha

Hiroaki Nakano (), Kennet Lundin, Sarah J. Bourlat, Maximilian J. Telford, Peter Funch, Jens R. Nyengaard, Matthias Obst and Michael C. Thorndyke
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Hiroaki Nakano: University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg 566, SE-451 78 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
Kennet Lundin: Göteborg Natural History Museum, Box 7283, SE-402 35 Göteborg, Sweden
Sarah J. Bourlat: University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg 566, SE-451 78 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
Maximilian J. Telford: Evolution and Environment, Darwin Building, University College London
Peter Funch: Aarhus University
Jens R. Nyengaard: Stereology and Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Centre for Stochastic Geometry and Advanced Bioimaging, Aarhus University Hospital
Matthias Obst: University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg 566, SE-451 78 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
Michael C. Thorndyke: University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg 566, SE-451 78 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract Xenoturbella bocki, a marine animal with a simple body plan, has recently been suggested to be sister group to the Acoelomorpha, together forming the new phylum Xenacoelomorpha. The phylogenetic position of the phylum is still under debate, either as an early branching bilaterian or as a sister group to the Ambulacraria (hemichordates and echinoderms) within the deuterostomes. Although development has been described for several species of Acoelomorpha, little is known about the life cycle of Xenoturbella. Here we report the embryonic stages of Xenoturbella, and show that it is a direct developer without a feeding larval stage. This mode of development is similar to that of the acoelomorphs, supporting the newly proposed phylum Xenacoelomorpha and suggesting that the last common ancestor of the phylum might have been a direct developer.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2556

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