The evolutionary origin of vertebrates
Schlosser, Gerhard
Schlosser, Gerhard
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Publication Date
2021-06-18
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Type
book part
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Citation
Schlosser, Gerhard. (2021). The evolutionary origin of vertebrates. In Gerhard Schlosser, Evolutionary origin of sensory and neurosecretory cell types: Vertebrate cranial placodes, Volume 2. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Abstract
The first introductory chapter of the second volume summarizes our current understanding of vertebrate evolution. After providing a short primer on the principles of phylogenetic systematics, the chapter provides an overview of the phylogenetic relationships of vertebrates with other chordates and deuterostomes and discusses how deuterostomes are phylogenetically related to other metazoans. Recent evidence is discussed suggesting that within the chordates tunicates are most closely related to vertebrates, with amphioxus being more distantly related. The chordates together with their sister group, the ambulacrarians (hemichordates and echinoderms), comprise the deuterostomes. The chapter then introduces vertebrates and their fossil relatives and presents a brief survey of body plans and embryonic development in other deuterostome groups (tunicates, amphioxus, hemichordates and echinoderms). The final section of the chapter provides a brief history of ideas on the evolution of vertebrates and discusses different scenarios on vertebrate origins from Haeckel until today.
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Publisher
CRC Press
Publisher DOI
https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003160625
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International