The lancelets (also known as amphioxus) are the modern representatives of the subphylum Cephalochordata, usually said to be the sister group of the craniates. They are usually found buried in sand in shallow parts of temperate or tropical seas. In Asia, they are harvested commercially as food for humans and domesticated animals. They are an important object of study in zoology as they provide indications about the origins of the vertebrates. Lanc...
more
The lancelets (also known as amphioxus) are the modern representatives of the subphylum Cephalochordata, usually said to be the sister group of the craniates. They are usually found buried in sand in shallow parts of temperate or tropical seas. In Asia, they are harvested commercially as food for humans and domesticated animals. They are an important object of study in zoology as they provide indications about the origins of the vertebrates. Lancelets serve as an intriguing comparison point for tracing how vertebrates have evolved and adapted. Although lancelets split from vertebrates more than 520 million years ago, their genomes hold clues about evolution, particularly how vertebrates have employed old genes for new functions. They are regarded as similar to the archetypal vertebrate form.
The genome of the Florida lancelet (Branchiostoma floridae) has been sequenced.
Lancelets grow up to about five centimetres long, reaching seven centimetres at the longest. In common with...
less
