Monoplacophora

E97472

Monoplacophora is a small, primitive class of deep-sea molluscs characterized by a single cap-like shell and serially repeated internal organs, offering key insights into molluscan and bilaterian evolution.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Nautilus (marine mollusk) 1

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf class of molluscs
taxonomic class
ancestralStatus considered primitive within Mollusca
belongsTo Lophotrochozoa
surface form: clade Lophotrochozoa

subkingdom Eumetazoa
bodyPlan low, limpet-like profile
bodySymmetry bilateral symmetry
characteristic multiple pairs of gills
multiple pairs of muscles
multiple pairs of nephridia
primitive molluscan features
serially repeated internal organs
circulatorySystem open circulatory system
coelom reduced coelom
commonName monoplacophorans
distribution worldwide oceans
environment abyssal zone
bathyal zone
feedingType detritivores
grazers
fossilRecord known from Paleozoic fossils
habitat benthic zone
deep sea
kingdom Animalia
larvalStage trochophore-like larva
lifestyle slow-moving
locomotion muscular foot
nervousSystem simple nervous system
notableGenus Neopilina
phylum Mollusca
rediscovery rediscovered as living species in the 20th century
reproduction separate sexes
sexual reproduction
researchRelevance important for phylogenetic analyses of Mollusca
researchUse comparative anatomy of bilaterians
study of segmentation in molluscs
respiration ctenidia (gills)
scientificImportance key to understanding bilaterian evolution
key to understanding molluscan evolution
shellComposition calcareous shell
shellType single cap-like shell
size small-bodied molluscs
skeleton shell as external skeleton
substrateAssociation soft sediment seafloor
taxonomicRank class
thoughtStatus long thought extinct

Referenced by (2)

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

Mollusca includesClass Monoplacophora
USS Nautilus namesake Monoplacophora
this entity surface form: Nautilus (marine mollusk)