Nephrozoa is a major clade of bilaterian animals. It includes all bilaterians other than Xenacoelomorpha. It contrasts with the Xenambulacraria hypothesis, which instead posits that Xenacoelomorpha is most closely related to Ambulacraria.[1][2][3][4][5] Which hypothesis is correct has been debated. Authors supporting the Xenambulacraria hypothesis suggested in 2019 that the genetic evidence used to support Nephrozoa may be due to systematic error.[1] By 2024, the deuterostomes, the group in which the anus forms before the mouth in the early embryo, have been stated to be definitely a clade, fitting in with the Nephrozoa hypothesis (with Nephrozoa separate from Xenacoelomorpha).[6]
Nephrozoa | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Subkingdom: | Eumetazoa |
Clade: | ParaHoxozoa |
Clade: | Bilateria |
Clade: | NephrozoaJondelius et al., 2002 |
Subdivisions | |
Synonyms | |
Eubilateria Ax, 1987 |
Below is a proposed phylogenetic tree of Nephrozoa:
Bilateria |
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