Reproduction and Development in Minor Phyla

The 26 recognized minor phyla comprise aberrant clades, as most of them terminate as blind offshoots. Untied from the discussion on their phylogenesis of minor phyla, this book is largely devoted, for the first time, to aspects of reproduction and development in minor phyletics. The minor phyla are not as speciose (1,795 species/phylum) as the major phyla (157,066 species/phylum) are. The accumulation of deleterious genes causes inbreeding depression among progenies arising from parthenogenesis, clonal multiplication and selfing hermaphrodites. The reason for the limited species diversity in minor phyla is traced to (i) eutelism in 65.7% of minor phyletics and (ii) existence of 21.6% clonals, (iii) 6.4% parthenogens and (iv) 1.2% selfing hermaphroditism. Gonochorism obligately requires motility to search for a mate. The combination of low motility and gonochorism from Placozoa to hemocoelomatic minor phyla has limited diversity to

"Author provides an exciting comprehensive compilation of all the groups: one that offers a refreshing insightful synopsis of reproduction and development in all minor phyla animals."— Robert L. Wallace, Rotifer News 38, January 2023

T. J. Pandian, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Madras), Dr. rer. nat. (Kiel, Germany), D.Sc. (CIFE, Mumbai) is 80 +, recipient of the Bhatnagar Prize, the highest award for a scientist in India, Naga International Prize (Philippines) and one of the ten National Professorships in the country. Elected to all academies of India and Trieste, Italy, he has served as Editor/Editorial Board Member of leading international journals. During the last ten years, he has single handedly authored ten volumes published by CRC Press, USA.