Monoblastozoa

Monoblastozoa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Monoblastozoa
Family:	Salinellidae
Genus:	Salinella
Species:	Salinella salve Frenzel 1892

Monoblastozoa was granted the title of phylum after the recognition that Mesozoa was too diverse to be a phylum unto itself.

Species

Only one species has been described, Salinella salvae. It was discovered in 1892 by J. Frenzel in the saltpans of Argentina and cultivated in laboratory by him. This animal has not been found since and its real existence is considered as doubtful^[1]. More organised than Protozoa, but still very primitive multicellular organisms. Characterised by their distinct anterior/posterior parts and being densely ciliated, especially around "mouth" and "anus". They only have one layer of cells. They reproduce assexually by transverse fission of body. Although sexual reproduction was suspected, no evidence exists of it ^[2].

References

1. ^ Brusca, R. C. & Brusca, G. J., 2005. Invertebrados, 2ª edición. McGraw-Hill-Interamericana, Madrid (etc.), XXVI+1005 pp. ISBN 0-87893-097-3.
2. ^ Frenzel, J., 1892. Untersuchungen über die mikroskopische Fauna Argentiniens. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, 58: 66–96. PDF