Ecdysozoa

E93301

Ecdysozoa is a major animal clade of molting invertebrates that includes arthropods, nematodes, and several related phyla.

Jump to: Surface forms Statements Referenced by

Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Onychophora 1

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf animal clade
protostome clade
superphylum
belongsTo Bilateria
bodySymmetry bilateral symmetry
characterizedBy growth by ecdysis
molting of cuticle
presence of a three-layered cuticle
contains Arthropoda
Kinorhyncha
Loricifera
Nematoda
Nematomorpha
Ecdysozoa self-linksurface differs
surface form: Onychophora

Priapulida
Tardigrada
contrastsWith Lophotrochozoa in larval and morphological traits
cuticleFunction protection and support
developmentType protostome development
domain Eukaryota
embryologicalFeature spiral cleavage often reduced or modified
etymology derived from Greek ecdysis meaning molting
growthMode stepwise growth via periodic molting
habitatRange global distribution in diverse habitats
hasEcologicalRole includes major terrestrial, freshwater, and marine invertebrates
hasFeature absence of trochophore larvae
cuticle composed mainly of chitin or collagen
lack of locomotory cilia
hasMemberCount more than 1 million described species
hasProcess ecdysis
includesCommonNameGroup arthropods
roundworms
tardigrades
velvet worms
includesModelOrganism Caenorhabditis elegans
Drosophila melanogaster
kingdom Animalia
proposalYear 1997
proposedBy Aguinaldo et al.
recognizedIn modern animal phylogenetic classifications
reproduction primarily sexual reproduction
sisterGroupOf Lophotrochozoa
subdivisionOf Protostomia
supportedBy 18S rRNA gene analyses
molecular phylogenetic evidence
taxonRank clade
superphylum

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Ecdysozoa contains Ecdysozoa self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Onychophora
Nematoda superphylum Ecdysozoa