Turbellaria
Turbellaria
Turbellaria (pronounced: tur-bel-lar-ia) is a class within the phylum Platyhelminthes, commonly known as flatworms. The name 'Turbellaria' is derived from the Latin word 'turbellae', meaning 'little whirlpool', and 'aria', meaning 'pertaining to', referring to the cilia's movement that these organisms use for locomotion.
Definition
Turbellaria are a group of mostly free-living (non-parasitic), marine, freshwater, or terrestrial flatworms. They are characterized by their soft, flattened bodies covered with cilia (tiny hair-like structures) that aid in their movement.
Anatomy
Turbellarians have a simple body structure with a mouth but no anus. They have a gastrovascular cavity for digestion and excretion. The nervous system is composed of a pair of anterior ganglia or nerve cell clusters, with longitudinal nerve cords connected by transverse nerves like a ladder.
Reproduction
Turbellarians reproduce both sexually and asexually. In sexual reproduction, most species are hermaphroditic (having both male and female reproductive organs). Asexual reproduction is usually by transverse fission.
Classification
The class Turbellaria is divided into several orders, including Tricladida, Polycladida, and others. However, the classification of Turbellaria is under debate, and some taxonomists prefer to consider Turbellaria as a non-monophyletic group.
Related Terms
- Platyhelminthes: The phylum to which Turbellaria belongs.
- Tricladida: An order of Turbellaria.
- Polycladida: Another order of Turbellaria.
- Ganglia: A structure containing a number of nerve cell bodies, typically linked by synapses.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Turbellaria
- Wikipedia's article - Turbellaria
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