Animal Phyla/Acoelomorpha


 * Acoelomorpha
 * Name Meaning: Without gut
 * English Common Name: Acoels
 * Major distinguishing characteristics: No mouth or alimentary canal
 * Approximate number of species described: unknown

Natural History
All but two freshwater species are marine. All are aquatic. They live between the grains of sand, in the water column as plankton, or crawling on the substrate or other organisms.

Taxonomy
Some consider this group to be a Subphylum of Xenacoelomorpha.

There are two Classes that traditionally belong to the Phylum regardless of their placement.
 * Acoela
 * Nemertodermatida

Anatomy
The Acoelomorpha resemble flat worms. Their internal structures are so simple they have no real internal structures.

The Fossil Record
There is no known fossil record.

Quiz

 * /Acoelomorpha Quiz/

References and Further Reading

 * Acoelomorpha on Encyclopedia of Life
 * Acoelomorpha at Wikipedia