Systematics and Evolution in the Echiura:
Investigation of phylogenetic relationships at the intra- and inter-phylum levels
and a morphologic re-evaluation of echiurans worldwide.
In the Echiura, there are 142 putative species in 37 genera, 24 of these genera containing only 1 or 2 species, and only 4 genera have more than 6 species. A few species have been erected for single specimens and several are based on damaged or incomplete worms, especially those from the deep-sea e.g. Zenkevitch, 1957 or 1966. The lack of trunks did not stop Salvini-Plawen (1972) from naming two new species on the basis of four probosci, and Popkov (1992) only paper on Echiura named a new species based on a single worm that did have a trunk, but no proboscis (Popkov has left science for commerce). These taxa are grouped into three orders and four families. Two of these orders contain one family which in turn contain a single genus, and one of these has a single species. Limited concentration on the systematics of the Echiura as a whole has left the group in some disarrary. (picture Urechis 2-d trochophore larva)

    No American systematist has worked with the Echiura for over 40 years. During the past two decades the only person who has devoted serious attention to this group is a South African, R. Biseswar (1983, 1984, 1985, 1988). One Ukrainian/Russian colleague, G. Murina, has made a few faunistic contributions, but has now retired. A Japanese colleague with whom Cutler worked in 1979, T. Nishikawa, has worked with a variety of minor invertebrate phyla and has begun developing expertise with the Echiura. A few others have exhibited passing interest, and there are others who have developed knowledge of local populations for developmental, ecological or physiological reasons. However no one researcher is trained broadly in the systematics of the Echiura or Sipuncula.

    At Harvard, my primary objective was to develop an expertise in the morphology and taxonomy of both Sipuncula and Echiura and re-evaluate the Echiura through as many type representatives for each of the genera available. I also also focussed more narrowly on questions relating to their population genetics or phylogeny within both groups, the primary result of this fellowship was the critique and re-evaluation of Echiura taxonomy at the generic level.

Research |Biography |Publications Updated 15 December 1999