Family BRANCHIOSTOMIDAE
Compiler and date details
B.J. Richardson, Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, NSW
Introduction
The Branchiostomidae are the sole family in the Cephalochordata. In the Australian fauna, the family is represented by two endemic species from temperate waters and six wide-spread tropical species (Richardson & McKenzie 1994). They are placed in two genera, Branchiostoma and Epigonichthys. These can be differentiated by the presence of a row of gonads on the right side only in Epigonichthys and rows on both sides in Branchiostoma.
General References
Richardson, B.J. & McKenzie, A.M. 1994. Taxonomy and distribution of Australian cephalochordates (Subphylum Cephalochordata; Phylum Chordata). Invertebrate Taxonomy 8: 1443-1459