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2. Phylum Monoblastozoa Lyrics and Vocal: Shin Kubota, Music: Toshio Nakagita |
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The phantom animal “Salinella” is not described in the textbook and is veiled in mysteries. It is the only member of the Monoblastozoa. Salinella was accidentally discovered in laboratory from the saltpan sediments of Argentina. The original manuscript describing detailed observation records was published in 1892. However, after more than 100 years, this animal has not been found again. Salinella has a structure similar to a hollow tennis ball. This animal has a narrow and elongated body approximately 1 mm in length, and microscopic observation showed that the animal has only one layer of cells. The cells look very similar inside and out. No other animals have this type of cell structure. Salinella may have the figure of our long lost ancestor. The reason is that any multi cellular animal goes through the salinella-like blastula stage during the course of development. A fertilized egg divides itself by two repeatedly to increase the number of cells. Initially, one cell (fertilized egg) divides into two, then four, eight and so on to be a multi-cellular body and then become a blastula. At that time, Salinela may have developed openings at the both end of the body, and lost the normal blastula structure. Salinella also has anteroposterior distinctions. The two openings are equivalent to a mouth and anus. The space connecting these openings performs a gastrointestinal function. The forward mouth takes in organic waste (detritus), digestive cavity absorb nutrient, and the unabsorbed waste is excreted from anus. The blastula of any animal has a lot of short hair (i.e. cilia) on the whole body surface and use them for locomotion. Salinella is no exception, and mysteriously, even the inner surface of the hollow body is covered with cilia as well. The cilia are not evenly distributed on the body surface. Harder and longer hair grows in bundle around the mouth and anus than the hair on other parts of the body. It is likely that the hair protects important gateways when food is ingested or egested. Salinella is believed to crawl or slide on the sea floor or occasionally float above the bottom and swim in the sea while taking in food. Salinella creates “another self” to increase their population. They reproduce asexually by fission. They are so-called “clones”. Nothing is understood about their sexual reproduction. It is possible that the known form of Salinella may not be an adult form. Even the distinction between male and female cannot be made. If Salinella is discovered again, its genetic information will be analyzed and the relationship to other animals can be elucidated. We should pay close attention to tiny microscopic animals and wish to make such news as “Salinella rediscovered” come true. |
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The body of Salinella is an ellipsoid |
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A song is only Japanese.
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Copyright (C); 2007, Shin Kubota.All Rights Reserved.