Placozoans

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

Trichoplax sp. from AustraliaTrichoplax sp. from Wikimedia Commons

The enigmatic phylum Placozoa is the only animal phylum harboring a single species, Trichoplax adhaerens (live photograph of an adult specimen), only. New genetic methods, however, have revealed that this phylum indeed harbor more than 100 to 200 yet undescribed species. This case of under-represented diversity in a phylum is unique. These animals are of particular importance to systematics and evolution since they might represent the ancestors of all other metazoans.

USNM 1616904 - Specimen Image 3; Field number: HI_KJ08

USNM 1616904 - Specimen Image 7; Field number: HI_KJ08

USNM 1616904 - Specimen Image 5; Field number: HI_KJ08

USNM 1616904 - Specimen Image 2; Field number: HI_KJ08

USNM 1616904 - Specimen Image 1; Field number: HI_KJ08

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.