Peanut worm no longer recognized as separate group
Thursday, March 3, 2011 - 11:00
in Biology & Nature
Recent molecular phylogenetic analysis has shown that the marine animals known as peanut worms are not a separate phylum, but are definitely part of the family of annelids, also known as segmented worms. This is a classification that seemed questionable in the past in view of the fact that peanut worms or the Sipunculidae, to give them their scientific name have neither segments nor bristles. The latter are considered typical characteristics of annelids, which include more than 16,500 identified species and to which our common earthworm belongs.