EXTERNAL FEATURES OF BALANOGLOSSUS

Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Type

:
:
:
:

Chordata
Hemichordata
Enteropneusta
Balanoglossus (tongue worm)

Balanoglossus is a marine, tubicolous or burrowing hemichordate inhabiting shallow coastal waters of

intertidal zones, but few occur in deeper water.
External Morphology:
Shape, size and colouration: The body is soft, elongated, worm-like, cylindrical and bilaterally symmetrical.
It measures 10 to 50 cm in length, according to species. Colour is bright with reddish or orange tints. The
body is uniformly ciliated and without any exoskeleton or external appendages.
Division of body. The body is unsegmented but divisible into three distinct regions or parts: proboscis, collar
and trunk.
1. Proboscis :- The proboscis is the anterior most part of the body. It is short, conical and circular in crosssection. It has thick muscular wall and hollow within. Its cavity or proboscis coelom communicates with the
outside through a minute proboscis pore situated mid-dorsally near its base. Posteriorly, the proboscis
narrows into a slender neck or proboscis stalk which is attached to the collar. Below the stalk, the base of the
proboscis bears a U-shaped ciliated epidermal depression, called the preoral ciliary organ, which tests the
quality of food and water entering the mouth.
2. Collar: - The collar or mesosome is the middle, short and cylindrical part. Its funnel- like anterior margin,
termed collarette, completely surrounds and conceals the proboscis stalk and the posterior part of the
proboscis. Ventrally, below the proboscis stalk, the collarette encloses a permanently open wide aperture, the
mouth. It opens to the buccal cavity inside the collar. The posterior end of the collar is well demarcated from
the trunk by a circular constriction. The wall of the collar is thick, highly muscular and encloses a cavity, the
collar Coelom. It opens outside through a pair of collar pores into the first pair of gill pouches behind.
3. Trunk: - The trunk or metasome, the posterior and the largest part of the body. It is rather flat and appears
annulated due to circular constriction on the surface. The trunk is further differentiated into three regions: an
anterior branchiogenital, a middle hepatic and a posterior post-hepatic, abdominal and caudal region.
a) Branchiogenital region: The anterior region of the trunk is marked by a pair of lateral, thin, flat and
longitudinal flaps, the genital wings, containing the gonads. The anterior half of branchiogenital region bears
two longitudinal rows of small branchial apertures or gill pores. The number of gill pores increases with the
age of the animal.
b) Hepatic region: The middle region or hepatic region of the trunk is somewhat smaller than the genital
region. It is greenish in colour and its dorsal surface marked by the presence of numerous irregular hepatic
caeca.
c) Post-hepatic region: It is the posterior most and the longest part of the trunk also called the abdomen or
the caudal region. It is the more or less uniform in diameter but its posterior end slightly tapers and bears a
terminal anus.

TORNARIA LARVA
Tornaria larva was first described by J. Muller in 1850 who suspected it to be the larva of some
starfish. Later on it was known to belong to Balanoglossus clavigerus. It is so called because of its habit of
rotating in circles. It is clear, glossy in appearance with an oval body ranging upto 3 mm in size. It has a
ventral mouth near the equatorial plane of the body, a posterior terminal anus and gut differentiated into an
oesophagus, stomach and intestine. The cilia form two bands on the body surface. The anterior ciliary band
a circumoral band takes up a winding course over the pre-oral surface and forms a postoral loop; its cilia is
short and serve to collect food. The posterior ciliated band or telotroch* occurs as a ring in front of the
anus; its cilia are long and serve as locomotory organs. At the anterior end is an apical plate of thickened
epidermal cells, which bears a pair of eyespots or ocelli and a tuft of sensory cilia apical tuft or ciliary organ.
The protocoel (proboscis coelom) in the form of a thin-walled is present and opens to the exterior through a
hydropore (proboscis pore). To the right of hydropore lies a pulsating heart vesicle. The collar and trunk
coeloms appear in the older larva.
Tornaria Larva : Affinities with Echinodermata
Larval resemblances. The two groups show a strong affinity on embryological ground as the mrnaria larva
of Balanoglossus has a striking structural similarity with an echinoderm larva, in particular the bipinnaria
larva of asteroids. In fact, the tornaria was regarded an echinoderm larva for a long time by Johannes
Muller (1850), Krohn (1854), Agassiz (1864),etc., till Metschnikoff (1870) proved it to be an enteropneust
larva. The larvae of the two groups possess the following common features:
(1) Small, pelagic, transparent and oval.
(2) Identical ciliated bands taking up a similar twisted course.
(3) Enterocoelic origin and similar development of coelom.
(4) Proboscis coelom opening to outside by proboscis pore of tornaria comparable to hydrocoel of
echinoderm dipleurula.
(5) Bastopore becomes the anus (Deuterostomia) and digestive tract is complete with mouth, anus and
same parts.

HERDMANIA
External Morphology : Shape, size and colouration. The body is laterally compressed and somewhat
oblong or rectangular in shape with the attached end slightly narrower than the free end. The whole animal
looks like a purse, bag or potato. An average adult measures about 9.5 cm long, 7 cm broad and 4 cm thick.
The foot, when present, measures 3 to 4 cm long. The size, however, increases with age. Fresh specimens
are pinkish in colour due to distribution of superficial blood capillaries in the test. Preserved specimens
appear yellowish-brown in colour.
Division of body. The body is covered by the test and divisible into two parts: body proper and foot.
1.Body proper:- The distal free part of the animal is body proper. It is broader and longer than the basal
part or foot. The free end of the body proper is drawn into two short cylindrical projections called the
branchial and atrial siphons or funnels. Both the siphons are situated at the same level. The branchial or
oral siphon is smaller, about 1 cm long and directed outwards. It bears a terminal opening called the
branchial aperture or mouth or incurrent opening. The atrial or cloacal siphon is larger, about 1.5 cm
long and directed upwards. Its terminal opening is called the atrial aperture or excurrent opening. Each
aperture is guarded by four distinct lobes or lips formed by the much elastic test. At the slightest
disturbance, they contract and close the aperture. The branchial aperture is considerably wider in
comparison to the atrial aperture.
2.Foot:-The foot a s entirely made by the- test or tunic. It is dirty in colour and rough due to sand
particles, shell pieces and other foreign bodies attached to it. Its shape and size is variable. If the
substratum is quite hard, such as a rock or a mollusc shell, the body proper becomes attached by forming a
broad, flat or concave base, and the foot is absent. On a sandy bottom, the animal anchores its body by
extending a foot which may be narrow, elongated, oval or irregular depending on the nature of sub stratum. A fully extended foot may attain a length of 3 to 4 cm. Besides attachment and anchorage, the foot
acts as a balancer to keep the body erect when detached.
Orientation. The body of Herdmania has a definite but peculiar orientation.
Test or Tunic: - the test or tunic forms a protective covering around the body and also acts as an accessory
respiratory organ and a receptor organ. It is soft leathery and translucent. It is almost transparent in young
stage but becomes opaque in the adult due to thickening.
The test cuts like a soft cartilage and is composed of
1. A clear gelatinous matrix in which are embedded
2. Corpuscles of various types,
3. Interlacing fibrils,
4. Branching blood vessels, and
5. Calcareous spicules.
* Retrogressive metamorphosis: A metamorphosis producing an apparent degeneration or reversion to a
more primitive state as for instance in tunicates (Ascidian tadpole)

EXTERNAL FEATURES OF BRANCHIOSTOMA (=Amphioxus)

Phylum
Sub-phylum
Class
Type

: CHORDATA
: CEPHALOCHORDATA (Gr.,kephale- head, chordae- cord)
: LEPTOCARDII
: Amphioxus lanceolatus (Branchiostoma lanceolatus)

The Amphioxus is small, marine and is of special significance because if it has 3 primary chordate
characteristics, such as notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord and pharyngeal gill slits, in simple condition,
throughout life.
Amphioxus is commonly known as "lancelet" which means "a little lance". because of its shape (both
ends of the body are sharp, pointed). The streamline body is well-suited for burrowing as well as swimming.
The posterior end is more tapering and pointed than the anterior end. The body of the Amphioxus is long and
laterally compressed.
It is translucent animal, 11/2- 2 inches long, living in shallow sea with sandy bottom. It is usually
found buried in sand with only the anterior end protruding above the sand.
In this position, it draws small organisms into the mouth along with the water currents set up by the ciliary
apparatus at the fore-end of the body.
Division of body A true head is degenerate and absent. The body is divisible only in two regions. The
greater anterior region constitutes the trunk , and a much shorter postanal posterior region is the tail. The
anterior end of trunk projects in front as a pointed snout or rostrum.
APERTURES. The trunk bears three openings : mouth, atriopore and anus. Anteriorly, below the
rostrum is a tentaculated structure, the oral hood, formed by dorsal and lateral projections of the body.
1.Mouth is a large oval median aperture situated antero-ventrally below the rostrum or anterior most tip of
the trunk. It is bordered by a frill-like membrane, the oral hood.
2. Oral hood and buccal cavity. The oral hood is formed by the dorsal and lateral projections of the
anterior end of trunk.
(a) Buccal cirri. Free ventra-lateral edge or margin of oral hood is beset with 10 to 11 pairs of stiff,
slender and ciliated oral or buccal cirri (or tentacles) which bear sensory papillae. Their number increases
with age. The buccal cirri-and the edge of oral hood are internally supported by stiff, gelatinous skeletal
rods. The buccal cirri form a sieve or filter to prevent entry of larger particles with food current.
(b) Vestibule. The oral hood encloses a large funnel-shaped cavity called buccal cavity or vestibule into
which opens the mouth. As this cavity is lined with ectoderm, it is regarded as stomodaeum and its external
opening the true mouth.
(c)Velum and enterostome. Posteriorly, the vestibule is closed by a circular ring-like vertical membrane,
the velum. It is perforated by a central circular aperture, the enterostome, leading into the pharynx behind.
(d) Wheel organ. Basally, the epithelial lining of oral hood forms 6 to 8 pairs of finger-like folds or
patches each formed by a ciliated groove bounded by a ciliated ridge. Collectively these form a wheel
organ or rotatory organ or Muller's organ. As in rotifers, the cilia of wheel organ set up a whirling water
current to sweep food organisms into mouth. The mid-dorsal groove is the largest which ends in a small
depression on the roof of. buccal cavity.
(d) Atriopore is a small mid-ventral rounded aperture lying just in front of the ventral fin. The large
atrial cavity surrounding the pharynx opens to outside through atriopore. Another small aperture, the anus,
4

lies somewhat asymmetrically to the left of mid-ventral line at the base of caudal fin. The small posterior
body region behind the anus is the tail.
FINS AND FOLDS.Fins Branchiostoma bears three longitudinal median or unpaired fins: dorsal, caudal and ventral. The
dorsal fin runs as a low, mid-dorsal fold along the entire length of trunk. It is continuous behind with a
much broader caudal fin around the tail.
The ventral fin runs mid-ventrally from caudal fin upto atriopore along the posterior trunk region. It is
slightly wider than the dorsal fin. The dorsal and ventral fins are internally supported respectively by one
and two rows of small rectangular fin-ray boxes, each formed by stiff connective tissue containing a
central nodule. Fin rays are lacking in the caudal fin. The structure of fins and fin-ray boxes is different
from that in fishes.
Metapleural Folds Paired fins are absent. But, running longitudinally along the ventro-lateral margins of
the anterior two third part of trunk, from oral hood to atripore, there are two hollow membranous
metapleural folds . These possibly help in burrowing in sand rapidly due to turgescene caused by flow of
body lymph in their cavities.
MYOTOMES AND GONADS. On each lateral side 6f body a series of <-shaped muscle bands, called
myotomes or myomeres can be seen through the transparent body wall. Between mouth and atriopore, can
also be seen on either side below the myotomes, a series of gonads.

AMPHIOXUS

EXTERNAL CHARACTERS OF PETROMYZON: It is commonly called as lamprey. It has a world wide distribution and found in salt (marinea0 and fresh
water.
The body is elongated ell-like, and divided into three regions; head, trunk and tail, which are not
clearly demarcated. It is without exoskeleton, soft and made slimy by secretions from epidermal glands.
Paired appendages are absent. Two unequal Median dorsal fins, 1st and 2nd are located near the posterior end.
Around the tail is the caudal fin, the upper lobe of which is continuous with the second dorsal fin. The fins
are supported by fin rays.
The anterior body end or head bears a ventrally directed large cup-like depression, the Sucker or
buccal funnel. The buccal funnel is surrounded by a thick fleshy marginal membrane beset with numerous
soft small projections, the oral fimbriae or papillae which help in attachment to a fish. In the centre of the
buccal funnel lies the mouth opening. It is surrounded by number of radiating teeth. Below the mouth is the
producible piston like rasping tongue, provided with teeth. The tongue helps in making hole by moving up
and down.
On each lateral side of the head is a large prominent eye. The eyes lack eyelids and are covered by
nictitating membrane which is transparent and protective in function. Just above the eyes on the mid-dorsal
region of the head lies single external nostril. Behind the nostril lies the transparent area which represents the
penial organ (penial body).
On the lateral sides of the body, behind the head lie 7 pairs of gill slits. The trunk is elliptical and
covered by smooth skin which is darker on the upper side and paler on the lower side. On the ventral side
between the trunk and tail, is a slit like depression the cloaca. A urinogenital papilla bearing on its tip a
minute urinogenital aperture protrudes through the cloaca. Just in front of it lies the small anus within the
cloacal depression. Numerous small sensory pores of the lateral line system extend along each lateral side of
the body and below the head.
Petromyzon is a predator feeding mainly on bony fishes. It attaches itself by means of its powerful
sucker-like buccal funnel to the body of the fish. After making an wound on the victims body the lampreys
injects Anticoagulant in saliva into the wound and sucks blood and body fluid of the prey, hence it has a
Sanguivorous habit.
EXTERNAL FEATURES OF AMMOCOETE LARVA
The eggs hatch in about 3 weeks into minute transparent larvae called Ammocoetes. They are so
radically different from their parents that they were originally described as a distinct genus, Ammocoetes.
At first they are about 7 mm in length and stay in the nest. The larval period lasts from.3 to 7 years,
according to species during which they grow to about 170 mm in length and become opaque.
The ammoccete larva is of great importance as it probably represents the most primitive and generalized
vertebrate form. Its body is eel-like but it, differs from the adult in several respects. It has a continuous
single median dorsal fin. It is a blind, toothless and non-parasitic filter feeder. Feeding and respiration are
like those of Branchiostoma. It has no suctorial buccal funnel but a semicircular upper lip or oral hood
around the mouth, similar to that of Branchiostoma. Mouth also has a transverse lower lip. It emerges at
night from its burrow to feed on unicellular algae and bacteria, which are caught on the floor of pharynx in
mucous strings secreted by a tubular endostyle. A velum made of a pair of muscular flaps, regulates the
entry of water current into the pharynx which is continued posteriorly into the oesophagus. 7 pairs of ,gill
pouches are present each with its internal gill slit into pharynx and external gill slit to the exterior.
Branchial basket supporting the pharyngeal wall alternately expands and contracts drawing water through
6

mouth into pharynx and pumping out through external gill slits. Liver, bile duct, gallbladder and protonephros (kidney) are present. Pericardial cavity enclosing heart connect with coelom. Paired eyes remain
hidden under thick skin and muscles. Unpaired median pineal eye is well developed.

METAMORPHOSIS.
After a prolonged larval life of 3 to 7 years, ammocoetes undergo several radical structural changes
to metamorphose into the semiparasitic adult form:
1) Oral hood is replaced by a suctorial buccal funnel with strong and sharp teeth, tongue, rounded mouth
and complex musculature.
2) Endostyle changes into a thyroid gland below pharynx.
3) Velum becomes reduced to guard the opening of respiratory pharynx only.
4) Oesophagus separates from respiratory pharynx which becomes a blind sac.
5) Gall bladder and bile duct disappear.
6) Gills develop into gill pouches.
7) Pronephros is replaced by a mesonephros.
8) Paired eyes become uncovered and functional
9) Single median nostril shifts to the top of head.
10) Nasal sac becomes folded internally,
11) Continuous dorsal fin becomes divided into two.
12) Pericardial cavity becomes completely cut off from coelom.
13) Spinal cord becomes dorso-ventrally flattened.
14) Skin colour changes from yellow-brown to mottled greenish-brown.
After metamorphosis, the young lampreys swim down to the sea where they remain for 3 or 4 years before
reaching maturity when they once again migrate to streams or rivers to spawn and die.