Branchiostoma bennetti
Branchiostoma bennetti, the mud lancelet, is a lancelet of the genus Branchiostoma endemic to the Gulf of Mexico, where it is found in the northern part.
| Branchiostoma bennetti | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia | 
| Phylum: | Chordata | 
| Class: | Leptocardii | 
| Family: | Branchiostomatidae | 
| Genus: | Branchiostoma | 
| Species: | B. bennetti  | 
| Binomial name | |
| Branchiostoma bennetti Boschung & Gunter, 1966 [1]  | |
Description
    
Like other lancelets in the genus Branchiostoma, B. bennetti occurs in inshore waters where it burrows into sand or muddy sand at depths down to about 12 m (40 ft). The body is laterally flattened and pointed at both ends. It has a long dorsal fin and another fin on its ventral surface, and a caudal fin at the rear end.[2] B. bennetti differs from other western Atlantic lancelets for having the longest buccal cirri among them. These cirri are further unique in this region because of their extended lateral projections. [3]It is presumed that these unique buccal cirri are an adaptation to living in a muddier habitat than other species. [3]
References
    
- Nishikawa, Teruaki (2015). "Branchiostoma bennetti Boschung & Gunter, 1966". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
 - Felder, Darryl L. (2009). Gulf of Mexico Origin, Waters, and Biota: Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press. pp. 1205–1207. ISBN 978-1-60344-269-5.
 - Boschung, Herbert T.; Gunter, Gordon (1966). "A New Species of Lancelet, Branchiostoma bennetti (Order Amphioxi), from Louisiana". Copeia. 1966 (3): 485–489. doi:10.2307/1441070. ISSN 0045-8511. JSTOR 1441070.