MarLIN Marine Information Network Information on the species and habitats around the coasts and sea of the British Isles

Lancelet (Branchiostoma lanceolatum)

MarLIN – Marine Life Information Network Marine Evidence–based Sensitivity Assessment (MarESA) Review

Morvan Barnes

2015-06-07

A report from: The Marine Life Information Network, Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

Please note. This MarESA report is a dated version of the online review. Please refer to the website for the most up-to-date version [https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/85]. All terms and the MarESA methodology are outlined on the website (https://www.marlin.ac.uk)

This review can be cited as: Barnes, M.K.S. 2015. Branchiostoma lanceolatum Lancelet. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. (eds) Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.17031/marlinsp.85.1

The information (TEXT ONLY) provided by the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own terms and conditions and they may or may not be available for reuse. Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available here. Based on a work at www.marlin.ac.uk (page left blank) Date: 2015-06-07 Lancelet (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) - Marine Life Information Network

See online review for distribution map

The lancet Branchiostoma lanceolatum (aquarium photograph). Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Photographer: Keith Hiscock Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). To Copyright: Dr Keith Hiscock interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.

Researched by Morvan Barnes Refereed by Admin Authority (Pallas, 1774) Other common Amphioxus lanceolatus Pallas, - Synonyms names 1774

Summary

 Description

The lancelet Branchiostoma lanceolatum is spindle-shaped and pointed at both ends. The body is segmented and flattened dorsoventrally with a membranous flipper along the dorsal side. The tail end has a lance-like flipper. It grows up to 8 cm in length and is semi-transparent pink in colour. The head is a mere continuation of the body. Multiple cirri project from the mouth.

 Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Most records are found off the southern coasts of Britain and Ireland as far north as Anglesea and Liverpool Bay, and along the southern North Sea, with scattered records around Scotland, and north east coast of England.

 Global distribution

Most records are found in the southern North Sea and Kattegat, the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay, with scattered records in the Baltic Sea, Mediterranean and Black Sea. A few scattered records occur in the Atlantic coast of North and South America, the Indian Ocean and Pacific. https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/85 3 Date: 2015-06-07 Lancelet (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) - Marine Life Information Network

 Habitat

The lancelet inhabits the sandy sublittoral zone at depths down to 30 m. It prefers sand mixed with shells rather than more muddy bottoms as it is not suited to penetrate ground with small particles.

 Depth range -

 Identifying features

Up to 8 cm in length. Elongated body, pointed at both ends. Multiple cirri extend from the mouth. Lance-like flipper at tail end. Semi-transparent pink in colour.

 Additional information

Although cephalochordates are able to swim, most of their time is spent partially buried in the sand filtering microscopic food particles from the water (Riisgård & Svane, 1999).

 Listed by

 Further information sources

Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS)

Search on:     NBN WoRMS

https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/85 4 Date: 2015-06-07 Lancelet (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) - Marine Life Information Network

Bibliography

Gans, C., Kemp, N. & Poss, S. (eds.), 1996. The lancelets (Cephalochordata): a new look at some old beasts. Modified proceedings of a workshop at the IVth International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology held at the University of Chicago in August, 1994 Israel Journal of Zoology, 42 (supplement) NBN, 2015. National Biodiversity Network 2015(20/05/2015). https://data.nbn.org.uk/ Riisgård, H.U. & Svane, I., 1999. Filter feeding in lancelets (amphioxus), Branchiostoma lanceolatum. Invertebrate Biology, 118 (4), 423-432 Ruppert, E.E. & Barnes, R.D., 1994. Invertebrate zoology (6th ed.). Fort Worth, USA: Saunders College Publishing.

Datasets

NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org. OBIS (Ocean Biogeographic Information System), 2019. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2019-03-12

https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/85 5