Harrimaniidae, Spengel, 1901

Deland, C., Cameron, C. B., Rao, K. P., Ritter, W. E. & Bullock, T. H., 2010, A taxonomic revision of the family Harrimaniidae (Hemichordata: Enteropneusta) with descriptions of seven species from the Eastern Pacific, Zootaxa 2408 (1), pp. 1-30 : 4

Harrimaniidae : van der Horst, 1935

Diagnosis. Enteropneusta characterized by absence of circular muscle fibers in trunk. In those cases where development has been studied, the typical tornaria larva is absent and development is direct. In addition to these two unique features may be added the following characters: absence of lateral septa, absence of vermiform process of stomochord, absence of hepatic caeca in trunk and of synapticulae joining primary and secondary gill bars (for drawing of generalized enteropneust see Fig. 1 from Cameron, 2005). Dorsal nerve roots in collar mesentery and intestinal pores may be present or absent. Skeletal cornua extend at least to middle of collar.

Remarks. Of the five known genera included in this family — Harrimania , Saccoglossus , Protoglossus , Stereobalanus and Xenopleura , the first two occur in the Eastern Pacific. In addition, as a result of the present work, Protoglossus and Stereobalanus can now be added to this list, along with the three new genera described here ( Ritteria , Horstia and Mesoglossus ) and Saxipendium , which is transferred to the Harrimanidae .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Light micrographs of transverse sections of the proboscis of: A, Saccoglosus pusillus, showing the arrangement of the proboscis longitudinal musculature in concentric rings. B, Protoglossus mackiei n. sp., showing the arrangement of the proboscis longitudinal musculature in radial plates. C, Mesoglossus macginitiei n. gen. et n. sp., showing the diffuse arrangement of the proboscis longitudinal musculature. Abbreviations: plm, proboscis longitudinal muscles. Scale bars = 500 µm.