Domain Eukaryota Higher classification Opisthokont | Scientific name Choanozoa Rank Phylum | |
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Lower classifications Choanoflagellate, Mesomycetozoea, Ministeria vibrans, Holozoa | ||
Choanozoa
Choanozoa (Greek: χόανος (choanos) = "funnel" + ζῶον (zōon) = "animal") is the name of a phylum of eukaryotes that belongs to the line of opisthokonts. The Animals appear to have emerged in the Choanozoa, as sister clade of the Choanoflagellate.
Contents
Most appear closer to the animals than to the fungi, and they are of great interest to biologists studying animal origins.
The Cristidiscoidea seem to be a sister group to the fungi, and as such tend to be excluded from the Choanozoa.
Choanozoa have been described as possessing a posterior cilium.
Cladogram
The great kingdoms and their close relatives.
Classification
The Choanozoa consist of at least 7 groups: (1) the Mesomycetozoea (Ichthyosporea), a group of parasites infecting fish and other animals, (2) a group described in the early 21st century including Ministeria and Capsaspora, which has been named Filasterea after the thread-like tentacles which both genera share, and (3) the choanoflagellates including Monosiga and Proterospongia. The position of Corallochytrium is unclear.
The Choanozoa appear to be a paraphyletic group which gave rise to the animals. Lang et al. (2002) propose the new name Holozoa for a monophyletic grouping which is, in effect, Choanozoa enlarged or redefined to include animals.