Phoronopsis is a genus of horseshoe worm in the family Phoronidae, in the phylum Phoronida. The members of the genus live in tubes at the bottom of the sea.
Characteristics Like other phoronids, members of this genus are benthic filter feeders with a worm-like body encased in a loosely fitting chitinous tube. The tube is buried in the substrate, and the worm is anchored to the tube by an ampulla, the swollen part of its abdomen. The genus is characterised by the epidermis folding under itself at the collar beneath the lophophore (feeding organ). This distinguishes it from the genus Phoronis. The gut is U-shaped, with the anus close to the mouth. The larval form, found in the zooplankton, is known as an "actinotroch".World Register of Marine Species: Phoronida
Distribution The distribution is global.
Species Phoronopsis albomaculata Gilchrist, 1907 Phoronopsis californica Hilton, 1930 Phoronopsis harmeri Pixell, 1912World Register of Marine Species (possible synonymPhoronopsis harmeri. Phoronida. Phoronopsis malakhovi Temereva, 2000)
A 2018 phylogenetic analysis indicates that Phoronopsis is a monophyletic genus, while Phoronis is paraphyletic.Temereva, E. N.; Neklyudov, B. V. (2018). A New Phoronid Species, Phoronis savinkini sp. n., from the South China Sea and an Analysis of the Taxonomic Diversity of Phoronida. Biology Bulletin. 45(7): 617-639.
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