Classification of Hemichordata

Hemichordata

Position hemichordate in classification is doubtful. Foregut in hemichordates gives out a hollow buccal diverticulum into proboscis. This structure was earlier considered as “notochord” which is one of the fundamental characters of chordates. Based on this structure and other fundamental characters hemichordate was placed in Phylum-Chordata. But systematic position of hemichordata became doubtful when buccal diverticulumn was not considered as true notochord. Hence, hemichordata is not true chordate and it is treated as an independent invertebrate phylum.

General Characters of Hemichordata:1. Solitary and colonial, mostly tubicolous, exclusively marine.
2. Body soft, fragile, vermiform and divisible into proboscis, collar and trunk.
3. Body wall with a single-layered epidermis.
4. Coelom enterocoelous, divisible into protocoel, mesocoel and metacoel.
5. Buccal diverticulum, earlier considered as notochord, present in the proboscis.
6. Digestive tract complete; in the form of straight or U-shaped tube.
7. Gill-slits, when present, are paired and one to numerous.
8. Circulatory system simple and well developed; closed type; usually with a contractile heart vesicle and two longitudinal vessels, one dorsal and one ventral, interconnected by lateral vessels and sinuses.
9. Excretion by a single glomerulus situated in the proboscis.
10. Nervous system primitive comprising mainly of an intra-epidermal nerve plexus.
11. Reproduction mostly sexual. Sexes separate or united.Gonads one to several pairs.
12. Fertilisation external. Development mostly indirect through a free swimming tornaria larva. Direct development is also found in some forms.

Classification:-

Classification of Hemichordata:

Phylum Hemichrodata has been divided into following four classes:

Class 1. Enteropneusta:

             1. Commonly known as “acorn” or “tongue worms.”

             2. Solitary and burrowing worm-like marine animals.

             3. Body consists of proboscis, collar and trunk; collar without tentaculated arms.

            4. Alimentary canal straight; mouth and anus at opposite ends.

            5. Numerous pairs of U-shaped gill-slits.

            6. Two pairs of hepatic caeca present in the middle of the trunk.

            7. Sexes separate; gonads numerous, sac-like.

            8. Development with or without tornaria larva.

           Examples:

           Balanoglossus, Saccoglossus (= Dolichoglossus), Ptychodera.

Balanoglossus

Class 2. Pterobranchia:

            1. Sedentary, solitary or colonial, tubicolous marine animals.

           2. Proboscis with ciliated tentacles to produce ciliary feeding currents of water.

           3. Collar with two or more tentaculated arms bearing tentacles.

           4. One pair of gill-slits or none, never U- shaped.

           5. Alimentary canal U-shaped with dorsal anus situated near the mouth at the same end.

           6. Sexes separate or united; single or one pair of gonads.

           7. Development direct, may or may not include a free swimming larval stage.

           8. Asexual reproduction by budding in some.

                      Order 1. Cephalodiscida:

                        1. Solitary or several individuals living unconnected in a common gelatinous house.

                        2. Collar with several tentaculated arms.

                        3. Gill-slits single pair.

                        4. Gonads single pair.

                       Examples:

                        Cephalodiscus, Atubaria.

Cephalodiscus

                      Order 2. Rhabdopleurida:

                       1. Colonial, zooids connected by a stolon.

                       2. Collar with two tentaculated arms.

                       3. Gill-slits absent.

                       4. Gonad single.

                      Example:

                      Rhabdopleura (Single genus).

Rhabdopleura

Class 3. Planctosphaeroidea:

This class is represented by a few small rounded, transparent and pelagic larvae, supposed to be specialised tornaria of some unknown hemichordate Planctosphaera pelagica. The larva has branching arborescent ciliated bands on the surface. The alimentary canal of larva is U-shaped. The adult form is yet unknown.

Class 4. Graptolita:

These are extinct colonial hemichordates, mainly known from the fossil structures of their tubes. Each animal is housed in a zooid. These were abundant in the Ordovician and Silurian periods.

Example:

Dendrograptus.