Checklist of the phyla Platyhelminthes, Xenacoelomorpha, Nematoda, Acanthocephala, Myxozoa, Tardigrada, Cephalorhyncha, Nemertea, Echiura, Brachiopoda, Phoronida, Chaetognatha, and Chordata (Tunicata, Cephalochordata, and Hemichordata) from the coasts of Turkey

Authors: MELİH ERTAN ÇINAR

Abstract: In this paper, the current status of the species diversity of 13 phyla, namely Platyhelminthes, Xenacoelomorpha, Nematoda, Acanthocephala, Myxozoa, Tardigrada, Cephalorhyncha, Nemertea, Echiura, Brachiopoda, Phoronida, Chaetognatha, and Chordata (invertebrates, only Tunicata, Cephalochordata, and Hemichordata) along the coasts of Turkey is reviewed. Platyhelminthes was represented by 186 species, Chordata by 64 species, Nemertea by 26 species, Nematoda by 20 species, Xenacoelomorpha by 11 species, Chaetognatha by 10 species, Acanthocephala by 9 species, Brachiopoda and Phoronida by 4 species, Myxozoa and Tradigrada by 2 species, and Cephalorhyncha and Echiura by 1 species. Two platyhelminth (Planocera cf. graffi and Prostheceraeus vittatus), 2 nemertean (Drepanogigas albolineatus and Tubulanus superbus), 1 phoronid (Phoronis australis), and 2 ascidian (Polyclinella azemai and Ciona roulei) species are being newly reported for the first time from the coasts of Turkey. Four tunicate (Symplegma brakenhielmi, Microcosmus exasperatus, Herdmania momus, and Phallusia nigra) and 1 chaetognath (Ferosagitta galerita) species were classified as alien species in the region.

Keywords: Miscellanea, other phyla, diversity, checklist, alien species, Turkey

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