| Nephrozoa | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Subkingdom: | Eumetazoa |
| Clade: | ParaHoxozoa |
| Clade: | Bilateria |
| Clade: | Nephrozoa Jondeliuset al., 2002 |
| Subdivisions | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Nephrozoa is a proposed majorclade ofbilateriananimals. Under this hypothesis,Xenacoelomorpha forms the earliest diverging branch of Bilateria, with all other bilaterians placed in Nephrozoa. It contrasts with theXenambulacraria hypothesis, which instead posits that Xenacoelomorpha is most closely related toAmbulacraria (usually placed asdeuterostomes).[1][2][3][4][5][6] Which hypothesis is correct has been debated, and as of 2024 the issue is unresolved.[7][8] The clade is named after a key synapomorphy of the group: the presence of specialized excretory organs known asnephridia.[9]
Below is a proposedphylogenetic tree of Nephrozoa:
| Bilateria |
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