Agnatha cyclostomes imp

Evolution of Cyclostomes:
Various views regarding the evolution of cyclostomes is given below:
1. View of Stensio (1958):
(i) Cephalaspids might have given rise to Lampreys,
(ii) Pteraspids might have given rise to Myxinoids.
2. View of Kent (1967):
Ostracoderms might have lost the bony armour by mutations and

hence cyclostomes arose.
3. View of Hickman (1970):
Biochemical studies reveal that Lampreys are close to the vertebrate

ancestral line. The myxinoids seem to have evolved as a side
branch.
Affinities of the Cyclostomes:
According to Hackele, cyclostomes are removed farther from fishes

as fishes are from mammals. Cuvier united cyclostomata with
cartilaginous fishes. Aggassiz separated them from the true fishes
in 1857. Their separate treatment as a group is justifiable for no
other reason but they have a rasping tongue. This alone proves that
they form a divergent group.
On the other hand the development of anterior myotomes, the skull

which does not enclose the vagus, the absence of medulated nerve
fibres and the presence of a ciliated groove and a thyroid gland in
ammocoete larva, points to the conclusion that the cyclostomes
stem has originated from the common craniate stock at a point far
below that from which gnathostomes arose. Sedgwick is, however,
still in the favour of uniting cyclostomes with fishes.
As a most primitive living form of vertebrate, the class cyclostomata
is very important to understand the vertebrate evolution. Besides,
they possess some specialized characters as well. Thus cyclostome
appears as a curious mixture of degenerate, primitive and
specialized features.
The affinities of cyclostomes with Amphioxus and Gnathostomes,

along with their specialized and degenerate characters are
mentioned below:
Affinities with Amphioxus (Primitive Characters):
The following characters are in which vertebrates resembles found

the Amphioxus:
(1) Presence of unconstricted continuous notochord (but with an

added sheath).
(2) Segmental musculature but little modified from head to tail.
(3) Relatively large number of gill slits (in some hag fishes).
(4) Absence of gonoducts.
(5) Alimentary tract ciliated, straight and without much regional

specializations.
(6) Endostyle in lamprey’s larva.
(7) Unmyelinated nerves.
(8) External fertilization.
At the same times cyclostomes are highly organized than

Amphioxus.
They differ from the Amphioxus in following characters:
(1) Presence of several layered epidermis.
(2) Presence of cartilaginous skeletal structure.

(3) Presence of a distinct head with sense organs.
(4) Highly organized brain and vascular system.
(5) Presence of anterior and posterior dorsal fins.
Affinities with Gnathostomes:
The cyclostomes resemble the vertebrates in many respects.
The following are the characters in which cyclostomes show

advancement over Amphioxus and resemble vertebrates:
(1) Head with paired sense organs.
(2) Brain enclosed in cranium with 10 pairs of cranial nerves.
(3) Muscular three chambered heart.
(4) Leucocytes and erythrocytes in the blood.
(5) Lymphatic vessels.
(6) Sympathetic nervous system.
(7) Lateral line sense organs.
(8) Mesonephros type of kidney in the adult.
(9) Bilobed liver with gall-bladder.
(10) Beginning of segmented vertebral column.
But at the same time they differ from fishes and other
Gnathostomes in the following characters:
(1) Absence of jaws, paired appendages and girdles.
(2) Lack of scales, true teeth and ribs.
(3) Absence of spleen, stomach and gonoduct.
(4) Incomplete cranium and vertebrae.

(5) Only one or two semicircular ducts are present in the internal
ear.
(6) Heart without conus arteriosus.
(7) An unpaired nostrils.
(8) Poorly developed spiral valve, sympathetic nervous system and

lateral line sense organs.
(9) Unconstricted notochord.
(10) Myotomes not divided into dorsal and ventral portions.
(11) Dorsal and ventral spinal nerves are separate.
CYCLOSTOMES-GENERAL CHARACTERS
Cyclostomes’ are jawless vertebrates, They are primitive vertebrates.

The cyclostomes are marine or fresh-water vertebrates.
It includes the lampreys and hag fishes.

1) The body is long, eel like. It shows trunk
and compressed tail.
2) Paired fins are absent. Median fin is

supported by cartilaginous fin-rays.
3) The skin Is soft and smooth. It is slimy. It

as scale less.
4) Z shaped myomeres are present in the

trunk and tail Protractor and retractor
muscles move the tongue.
5) In this group a true coelome is seen.
6) These vertebrates will not have jaws, hence called Agnatha.
7) The mouth is circular. It works like a sucker. It is surrounded by

tentacles.
8) Tongue bears teeth.
9) Stomach is absent and oesophagus leads into the intestine.
10) Endoskeleton is present.
11) Skull is simple and primitive.
12) Notochord presists throughout life.
13) Vertebrae are represented by neural arches, around the

notochord.
14) Five to sixteen pairs of gills are present in sac like pouches
15) The heart is two chambered. Sinus venousus is present, but

conus arterlcsus is absent.
16) Blood contains leucocytes and Irregular nucleated erythrocytes..

17) Brain is seen.
18) Ten pairs or less number of cranial nerves are present.
19) Nasal sac is single and median.
20) Lateral line sense organ is present.
21) Excretory system includes a pair of mesonephric kidneys.
22) Sexes are separate.
23) Gonad is single and without a gonoduct.
24) Development may be direct or with a long larval stage.
CLASSIFICATION OF CYCLOSTOMATA
The class Cyclostomata is divided into two orders:
1) PETROMYZONIA AND 2) MYXINOIDEA
.Order 1. Pefromyzonia
1)Lampreys are included In this order.

2) The buccal funnel is suctorial and shows horny teeth.
3) The mouth is present in the buccal funnel.
4) The nasal sac is dorsal. It has no connection with the pharynx.
5) Eyes are functional.
6) Seven pairs of gill slits are present.
7) A well developed dorsal fin is present.
8) Branchial basket is complete.
9) Brain is well developed.
10) Pineal eye is well developed.
11) Ear has two semicircular canals.
Ex: 1. Petromyzon (Sea-lamprey) ) Lampetra fluviatilis.
Order 2: Myxinoidea
1) It includes the hag-fishes or slime eels.

2) Buccal funnel is absent.
3) The nasal sac open into pharynx, through a canal.
4) Eyes are vestigial organs.
5) Dorsal fin is absent or very small.
6) Branchial basket is poorly developed.
7) Brain is primitive.
8) Pineal eye is reduced.
9) Ear has only one semicircular canal.
10) The hag-fishes are all marine.
Ex: 1. Myxine glutinosa Hag-fish or slime eel). 2. Eptatretus
(Bdellostoma)

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Evolution of Cyclostomes:

Various views regarding the evolution of cyclostomes is given below:

1. View of Stensio (1958):

(i) Cephalaspids might have given rise to Lampreys,

(ii) Pteraspids might have given rise to Myxinoids.

2. View of Kent (1967):

Ostracoderms might have lost the bony armour by mutations and

3. View of Hickman (1970):

Biochemical studies reveal that Lampreys are close to the vertebrate

Affinities of the Cyclostomes:

According to Hackele, cyclostomes are removed farther from fishes

On the other hand the development of anterior myotomes, the skull

The affinities of cyclostomes with Amphioxus and Gnathostomes,

Affinities with Amphioxus (Primitive Characters):

The following characters are in which vertebrates resembles found

(1) Presence of unconstricted continuous notochord (but with an

(2) Segmental musculature but little modified from head to tail.

(4) Absence of gonoducts.

(5) Alimentary tract ciliated, straight and without much regional

(6) Endostyle in lamprey’s larva.

(7) Unmyelinated nerves.

(8) External fertilization.

At the same times cyclostomes are highly organized than

They differ from the Amphioxus in following characters:

(1) Presence of several layered epidermis.

(2) Presence of cartilaginous skeletal structure.

(4) Highly organized brain and vascular system.

(5) Presence of anterior and posterior dorsal fins.

Affinities with Gnathostomes:

The cyclostomes resemble the vertebrates in many respects.

The following are the characters in which cyclostomes show

(1) Head with paired sense organs.

(2) Brain enclosed in cranium with 10 pairs of cranial nerves.

(3) Muscular three chambered heart.

(4) Leucocytes and erythrocytes in the blood.

(5) Lymphatic vessels.

(6) Sympathetic nervous system.

(7) Lateral line sense organs.

(8) Mesonephros type of kidney in the adult.

(9) Bilobed liver with gall-bladder.

(10) Beginning of segmented vertebral column.

(1) Absence of jaws, paired appendages and girdles.

(2) Lack of scales, true teeth and ribs.

(3) Absence of spleen, stomach and gonoduct.

(4) Incomplete cranium and vertebrae.

(6) Heart without conus arteriosus.

(7) An unpaired nostrils.

(8) Poorly developed spiral valve, sympathetic nervous system and

(9) Unconstricted notochord.

(10) Myotomes not divided into dorsal and ventral portions.

(11) Dorsal and ventral spinal nerves are separate.

Cyclostomes’ are jawless vertebrates, They are primitive vertebrates.

It includes the lampreys and hag fishes.

2) Paired fins are absent. Median fin is

3) The skin Is soft and smooth. It is slimy. It

4) Z shaped myomeres are present in the

5) In this group a true coelome is seen.

6) These vertebrates will not have jaws, hence called Agnatha.

7) The mouth is circular. It works like a sucker. It is surrounded by

8) Tongue bears teeth.