Photo Gallery- Enlarged View


"amphioxus" (Cephalochordata)

Collected: July 2004,Tampa Bay, FL. Collected at NIGHT at the surface using a 153 um mesh net. a 153 um

Notes: Commonly known as "amphioxus", the newer name for this lower chordate is Branchiostoma.

Adults are benthic, but juveniles may be planktonic. Supposedly, they swim using cilia. Even juveniles are seldom reported in the plankton, yet amphioxus were the dominant larger animals in this tow. Perhaps they migrate to near-surface waters at night.


Collected by: Dennis Allen, Baruch Marine Lab, University of South Carolina

Photographed and Submitted by: W. S. Johnson, Goucher College


Zooplankton of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts  •  Contact Us  •  Photo Gallery  •  Creature of the Month  •  Creature of the Month Archives  •  Web Links  •  New Information  •  For The Teacher  •  Tricks & Techniques  •  Disclaimer  •  Home