Branchiostomidae
Encyclopedia
Branchiostomidae is the family that includes most of the lancelet
s, which are tiny chordate
s without a true spine
but only a flexible notochord
.
Almost all lancelets belong to Branchiostoma
, the one and only genus
in the family Branchiostomidae. The genus was originally going to be called Amphioxus but was later changed to its current name.
Lancelet
The lancelets , also known as amphioxus, are the modern representatives of the subphylum Cephalochordata, formerly thought to be the sister group of the craniates. They are usually found buried in sand in shallow parts of temperate or tropical seas. In Asia, they are harvested commercially as food...
s, which are tiny chordate
Chordate
Chordates are animals which are either vertebrates or one of several closely related invertebrates. They are united by having, for at least some period of their life cycle, a notochord, a hollow dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, an endostyle, and a post-anal tail...
s without a true spine
Vertebral column
In human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column usually consisting of 24 articulating vertebrae, and 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx. It is situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by intervertebral discs...
but only a flexible notochord
Notochord
The notochord is a flexible, rod-shaped body found in embryos of all chordates. It is composed of cells derived from the mesoderm and defines the primitive axis of the embryo. In some chordates, it persists throughout life as the main axial support of the body, while in most vertebrates it becomes...
.
Almost all lancelets belong to Branchiostoma
Branchiostoma
Branchiostoma is one of the few living genera of lancelets . It is the type genus of family Branchiostomidae.These small vaguely eel- or snake-like animals are close relatives of vertebrates...
, the one and only genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
in the family Branchiostomidae. The genus was originally going to be called Amphioxus but was later changed to its current name.