CLASSIFICATION OF CHAETODERMA
PHYLUM :- MOLLUSCA (Unsegmented bilaterally symmetrical and provided with visceral mass, foot and mantle. )
CLASS :- AMPHINEURA (Head reduced, without eyes and tentacles, nervous system without definite ganglia. )
ORDER :- APLACOPHORA (Shell absent. )
GENUS :- Chaetoderma
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Found in U.S.A. and Europe.
HABIT AND HABITAT
Chaetodenna is marine inhabiting modem to abyssal depths, generally found in non-littoral zone. The mollusc is carnivorous, aberrant and specialized.
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF CHAETODERMA
- Body of the animal is elongated, vermiform and almost cylindrical.
- Mantle well developed and completely covering the body.
- Shell is absent but cuticle contains numerous calcareous spicules.
- Animal has anterior mouth a constriction, calcareous cuticular spicules or epidermal papillae and anus.
- Heart with single auricle.
- Nervous system is well developed with brain and ganglia.
- Gills are reduced to a pair found in the cloacal cavity.
- Nephridial ducts act as coelomoducts.
IDENTIFICATION
The animal has cylindrical body, cuticular spicules and all above features, hence it is Chaetoderma.
