The Aschelminthes (also known as Aeschelminthes), closely associated with the Platyhelminthes, are an obsolete phylum of pseudocoelomate and other similar animals that are no longer considered closely related and have been promoted to phyla in their own right. The term Aschelminth is now generally only used as an informal name for any member of the approximately ten different invertebrate phyla formerly included within Aschelminthes.

It is considered a polyphyletic group.^[1]

[edit] Subdivisions

Although invertebrate experts^{[citation needed]} do not necessarily agree on these categorizations, groups that are generally incorporated into Aschelminthes include:

• Acanthocephala
• Chaetognatha
• Cycliophora
• Gastrotricha
• Kinorhyncha
• Loricifera
• Nematoda
• Nematomorpha
• Priapulida
• Rotifera

In addition, Priapulida, Entoprocta, and Tardigrada are sometimes included.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Introduction to the "Aschelminth" Phyla
• Aschelminth information page

v • d • e Opisthokonta: Extant phyla of kingdom Animalia by subkingdom Parazoa Porifera (Calcarea, Demospongiae, Hexactinellida) · Placozoa (Trichoplax) Mesozoa Orthonectida · Rhombozoa Eumetazoa Radiata Ctenophora · Cnidaria (Anthozoa, Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Cubozoa, Staurozoa, Myxozoa) Bilateria Protostomia Ecdysozoa Cycloneuralia: Scalidophora (Kinorhyncha, Loricifera, Priapulida) · Nematoida (Nematoda, Nematomorpha) Panarthropoda: Onychophora · Tardigrada · Arthropoda Spiralia Platyzoa Platyhelminthes · Gastrotricha Gnathifera: Rotifera · Acanthocephala · Gnathostomulida · Micrognathozoa · Cycliophora Lophotrochozoa Trochozoa (Sipuncula, Nemertea, Mollusca, Annelida, Echiura) Lophophorata (Bryozoa, Entoprocta, Phoronida, Brachiopoda) Deuterostomia Ambulacraria Hemichordata · Echinodermata · Xenoturbellida Chordata Craniata (Vertebrata, Hyperotreti) · Cephalochordata · Tunicata Basal/disputed Acoelomorpha (Acoela, Nemertodermatida) · Chaetognatha