The History of Creation, Vol. 2 (of 2): Or the Development of the Earth and its Inhabitants by the Action of Natural CausesHaeckel, Ernst
Science
The History of Creation, Vol. 2 (of 2): Or the Development of the Earth and its Inhabitants by the Action of Natural Causes
Haeckel, Ernst
Evolution; Heredity; Human beings -- Origin
The main division of _Bloodless Worms_ (Acœlomi) contains, according to
our phylogenetic views, besides the still living Flat-worms, the unknown
and extinct primary forms of the whole tribe of Worms, which we shall
call the Primæval Worms (Archelminthes). The type of these _Primæval
Worms_, the ancient Prothelmis, may be directly derived from the Gastræa
(p. 133). Even at present the Gastrula-form—the faithful historical
portrait of the Gastræa—recurs in the ontogenesis of the most different
kinds of worms as a transient larva-form. The ciliated Gliding-worms
(Turbellaria), the primary group of the present Planary or Flat-worms
(Platyhelminthes), are the nearest akin to the Primæval Worms. The
parasitical Sucker-worms (Trematoda) arose out of the Gliding-worms,
which live freely in water, by adaptation to a parasitical mode of life;
and out of them later on—by an increasing parasitism—arose the
Tape-worms (Cestoda).
Out of a branch of the Acœlomi arose the second main division of the
Worm tribe, the Worms with blood and body-cavity (Cœlomati): of these
there are seven different classes.
The Pedigree on p. 151 shows how the obscure phylogeny of the seven
classes of Cœlomati may be supposed to stand. We shall, however, mention
these classes here quite briefly, as their relationships and derivation
are, at present, still very complicated and obscure. More numerous and
more accurate investigations of the ontogeny of the different Cœlomati
will at some future time throw light upon their phylogenesis.
The Round Worms (Nemathelminthes) which we mention as the first class of
the Cœlomati, and which are characterized by their cylindrical form,
consist principally of parasitical Worms which live in the interior of
other animals. Of human parasites, the celebrated Trichinæ, the
Maw-worms, Whip-worms, etc., for example, belong to them. The Star-worms
(Gephyrea) which live exclusively in the sea are allied to round worms,
and the comprehensive class of Ring-worms (Annelida) are allied to the
former. To the Ring-worms, whose long body is composed of a number of
segments, all alike in structure, belong the Leeches (Hirudinea),
Earth-worms (Lumbricina), and all the marine bristle-footed Worms
(Chætopoda). Nearly akin to them are the Snout-worms (Rhynchocœla), and
the small microscopic Wheel-worms (Rotifera). The unknown, extinct,
primary forms of the tribe of Sea-stars (Echinoderma), and of the tribe
of the articulated animals (Arthropoda), were nearest akin to the
Ring-worms. On the other hand, we must probably look for the primary
forms of the great tribe of Molluscs in extinct Worms, which were very
closely related to the Moss-polyps (Bryozoa) of the present day; and for
the primary forms of the Vertebrata in the unknown Cœlomati, whose
nearest kin of the present day are the Sea-sacs, especially the Ascidia.
SYSTEMATIC SURVEY
_Of the 8 Classes and 22 Orders of the Worm Tribe._
(Compare Gen. Morph. ii. Plate V. pp. 75-77.)
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