Martin Rundkvist's blog. Archaeology, skepticism, Sweden. And books and music and stuff.
Dr Martin Rundkvist is a Swedish archaeologist, journal editor, public speaker, skeptic, atheist, lefty liberal, bookworm, and father of two. This is the world's #1 archaeology blog according to Technorati.
Four Stone Hearth
« Live Spruce Roots 8000 Years Old | Main | Fieldwork in Hov and Vretakloster »
Category: Biology
Posted on: April 8, 2008 3:02 PM, by Martin R
New genomic research by Matthias Obst of the Department of Zoology at the University of Gothenburg, due to be published in Nature on 10 April, shows that the oldest extant phylum among Earth's animals is the ctenophores (Sw. kammaneter), not, as previously assumed, the sponges.
Via Dagens Nyheter.
[More blog entries about zoology, ctenophores, evolution; zoologi, kammaneter, evolution.]
Find more posts in: 
Life Science
TrackBack URL for this entry:
YES! Send me a free issue of Seed.
If I like what I see, I'll receive 5 more issues (6 in all) for just $14.95. That's 50% off the cover price! If I'm not completely satisfied, I'll simply write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing. The free issue is mine to keep.
(Non-U.S. subscribers, click here.)
Comments
That totally kicks fucking ass!! Ctenophora has always been my favorite fucking phylum!!
Posted by: PhysioProf | April 8, 2008 11:53 PM
From the paper:
"This result, which has not been postulated before, should be viewed as provisional until more data are considered from placozoans and additional sponges."
Posted by: Cameron | April 9, 2008 12:40 AM
Ah, the sponges are still trying to mop up, then.
Posted by: Bob O'H | April 9, 2008 1:01 AM
Comb jellies in English.
Posted by: David Marjanović | April 10, 2008 5:17 PM
Matthias Obst ... at the University of Gothenburg
Actually, at Kristineberg Marine Research Station, part of the university since January and now known as "Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences - Kristineberg". To celebrate the new glorious union the actual geographic location is being somewhat downplayed. Don't you just love university politics! ;)
Posted by: windy | April 10, 2008 8:02 PM
and as for the results, I'm beginning to wonder if Xenoturbella will one day be revealed as a running joke of taxonomists? "Let's see what we can pair it with this time!"
Posted by: windy | April 10, 2008 8:07 PM