The document summarizes key facts about the phylum Entoprocta. It notes that Entoprocta are small, goblet-shaped animals that are mostly sessile and attached by stalks. They have a crown of tentacles bearing cilia that draw food toward the mouth, located inside the crown. Entoprocta range from 0.1 to 7 mm long and occur worldwide, primarily in marine habitats. They can exist singly or form colonies, and reproduction can involve either external fertilization or fertilization and larval development within brood chambers.

1. Phylum Entoprocta Dr. Muhammad Moosa Abro
@Zoology by Miler and Harley

2. Examples Urnatella gracilis, Pedicellina cernua.
Approximately 150 species.
mostly sessile animals,
Ranging from 0.1 to 7 mm long.
Mature individuals are goblet shaped
and attached by relatively long stalks.
Phylum Entoprocta Dr. Muhammad Moosa Abro

3.  They have a crown of solid tentacles that bear cilia, draw food particles toward the mouth.
 The mouth and anus lie inside the crown (Entoprotca means “anus inside.”)
 Occur throughout the world,
 primarily in marine habitats,
 although one genus, Urnatella, is a freshwater form.
 Entoprocts may either exist singly or form colonies
 of communicating members, called zooids.
Phylum Entoprocta Dr. Muhammad Moosa Abro

4. External fertilization is most common.
Females of other species retain ova in
brood chambers where they are
fertilized and larvae develop.
After hatching, the larvae swim for a
short time, settle on a substrate, and
metamorphose to the adult.
Phylogenetic Relationships
Fossils of entoprocts are very rare and
date from the Late Jurassic period.
Some molecular phylogenies place the
entoprocts in a clade with the
ectoprocts and cycliophorans
Phylum Entoprocta
• Dr. Muhammad Moosa Abro

5. References
5
1. Miller, A.S. and Harley, J.B. ; 1999 , 2002., 2007, 2009, 2012 & 2016 Zoology, 4th , 5th, 6th, 7th,
8th , 9th& 10th Edition (International), Singapore : McGraw Hill.
2. Hickman, C.P., Roberts, L.C/, AND Larson, A., 2018. INTEGRATED PRINCIPLES OF ZOOLOGY,
15th Edition (International), Singapore: McGRAW-Hill