Multicellular Taxonomy of Epimetheus
Kingdom Aminalia (Distinguished by complex cellular differentiation and the absence
of cell walls)
1. Phylum Radiata (Distinguished by radial symmetry and a calcareous skeleton)
a. Class Elongata (Distinguished by a tubular body structure)
i. Order Echinoicthyes (Distinguished by the presence of fins and a
free-swimming lifestyle)
ii. Order Thuromorpha (Distinguished by the presence of feeding
tentacles and a benthic or reef-dwelling lifestyle)
b. Class Stellata (Distinguished by a flat body structure where each radial
segment may be elongated into an arm)
2. Phylum Bichordata (Derived from Stellata; distinguished by adult bilateral
symmetry with a nerve cord running down each side of the body; subphyla
Septapoda & Pentapoda)
a. Class Lobicthyes (Distinguished by the presence of six bilaterally paired
lobe-fins)
b. Class Actinichtyes (Distinguished by the presence of six bilaterally paired
ray-fins)
c. Class Amphibia I (Distinguished by the presence of six bilaterally paired
limbs and lungs)
d. Class Echinoreptilia I (Derived from Amphibia I; distinguished by the
ability to lay eggs on land and resist dessication)
i. Order Cephalidae (Distinguished by the separation of the skull
and anterior shoulders)
e. Class Lobocaroida (Distinguished by the presence of feeding appendages
and four bilaterally paired lobe-fins)
f. Class Actinocaroida (Distinguished by the presence of feeding
appendages and four bilaterally paired ray-fins)
g. Class Amphibia II (Distinguished by the presence of feeding appendages,
four bilaterally paired limbs, and lungs)
h. Class Echinoreptilia II (Derived from Amphibia II; distinguished by the
ability to lay eggs on land and resist dessication)
3. Phylum Annelisomata (Distinguished by similar linearly body segments)
a. Class Dracata (Distinguished by the bilateral symmetry and the presence
of a calcareous skeleton and segmented limbs)
i. Order Annelidichtyes
ii. Order Terradracata
b. Class Lobopoda (Distinguished by tentacular limbs)
4. Phylum Crustapoda (Derived from Dracata; distinguished by the fusion of body
segments to form complex structures)
a. Class Eurycrusta (Distinguished by a flattened body separated into
cephalon, thorax, and telson)
b. Class Crustaceoida (Distinguished by the fusion of adult segments into a
continuous cephalothorax and optional telson)
c. Class Duolobita (Distinguished by the segmentation of the body into a
cephalon and thorotelson)
Kingdom Rangeomorpha (Distinguished by minimal cellular differentiation, occasional
cell walls of chitin, rhodoplasts, and fractal organization of primitive forms)
1. Phylum Pseudophyta (Distinguished by sessile primarily photosynthetic
lifestyles)
a. Class Agaricoida (Distinguished by mushroom-shaped light gathering
and reproductive surfaces)
b. Class Terragaricoida (Derived from Agaricoida; distinguished by the
presence of a vascular system and resistance to dessication)
c. Class Pseudofilicopsida (Distinguished by fern-like branching structures)
d. Class Terrafilicoida (Derived from Pseudofilicopsida; distinguished by
the presence of a vascular system and resistance to dessication)
e. Class Bryomimoida (Derived from Pseudofilicopsida; distinguished by
low, matted colony structures and resistance to dessication)
2. Phylum Myxosomata (Distinguished by a body composed primarily of mucus)
a. Class Myxoamoeba (Distinguished by amorphous structure, lack of
differentiation between epithelial and mesenchyme cells, and motility in
nearly all cells)
i. Order Oceanomyxata (Distinguished by free-floating oceanic
lifestyle)
ii. Order Benthomyxata (Distinguished by a crawling lifestyle)
iii. Order Arboromyxata (Distinguished by symbiosis with arboroids
or sessile reef-builders)
b. Class Dermifera (Distinguished by the presence of a distinct epithelial
cell layer encasing the mesenchyme; may be amorphous.)
i. Order Retimorpha (Distinguished by freefloating web structures)
ii. Order Geoderma (Distinguished by crawling lifestyle)
3. Phylum Stromamorpha (Distinguished by a sheet/mat-like main body structure)
a. Class Benthostromata (Distinguished by a wide body anchoring dorsal
fronds, ventral digestive glands, and a benthic lifestyle)
b. Class Tenemorpha (Distinguished by an extremely elongated main body
and non-benthic lifestyle)
i. Order Pneumatostroma (Distinguished by the presence of gasfilled floats)
c. Class Terrastromata (Derived from Benthostromata; distinguished by
presence of a vascular system and the ability to move on land)
4. Phylum Coelenterata (Distinguished by the presence of an internal body cavity
with access to the exterior environment)
a. Class Monotrema (Distinguished by the presence of a single major
connection between the body cavity and the exterior)
i. Order Helicoida (Distinguished by single-stipe rhabdosomes)
ii. Order Dendroida (Distinguished by multi-stipe branching
rhabdosomes)
iii. Order Pelagia (Distinguished by the presence of pneumatophores)
iv. Order Pterobranchoida (Distinguished by non-colonial lifestyle)
b. Class Bitrema (Distinguished by a tube with two major connections
between the body cavity and the exterior)
i. Order Siphonata (Distinguished by the lack of distinction
between the body cavity and stomach)
ii. Order Pharynxata (Distinguished by the presence of a pharynx
and distinct gut)
c. Class Pseudomollusca (Derived from Pharynxata; Distinguished by the
presence of an anterior nerve-ring)
i. Order Eurypoda (Distinguished by the presence of a single
muscular foot attached to the body trunk.)
ii. Order Tentapoda (Distinguished by the lack of any but anterior
tentacular appendages)
iii. Order Pteropoda (Distinguished by the presence of two wing-fins
attached to the body trunk and two nerve cords running along the
sides of the body)
Kingdom Pseudoplantae (Distinguished by the presence of cell walls of cellulose or
chitin and rhodoplasts)
1. Phylum Zygnematoida (Distinguished by lack of cellular differentiation,
haplodiploid lifecycle, and colonial structure)
2. Phylum Bryoida (Distinguished by branching stalks bearing spore capsules
arranged in thick mats)
3. Phylum Phycoida (Distinguished by macroscopic flattened leaf structures
indistinct from a central stalk)
a. Class Telephyca (Distinguished by a single main strip)
i. Order Pneumatophyca (Distinguished by the presence of gasfilled floats)
ii. Order Branchiophyca (Distinguished by multiple frondlets
branching off of the main stem)
b. Class Polystipa (Distinguished by multiple frond-bearing stipes)
4. Phylum Filicoida (Derived from Bryoida; distinguished by the presence of a
vascular system)
a. Class Macrobryomima (Distinguished by colonial structures)
b. Class Monophyllomorpha (Distinguished by combined spore-producing
and photosynthetic fronds)
c. Class Biphyllomorpha (Distinguished by morphologically distinct
sporangia and photosynthetic fronds)
i. Order Radiostipa (Distinguished by the circular arrangement of
fronds forming a central stalk)
ii. Order Monostipa (Distinguished by a single thick stalk bearing
lateral frondlets)
Kingdom Mycomimoida (Distinguished by minimal cellular differentiation and the
usual presence of mineralized cell walls or spicules)
1. Phylum Spongimorpha (Porisomata? Distinguished by the invariable presence
of spicules and primarily superterranean body structures)
a. Class Hyalofera (Distinguished by the presence of siliceous spicules)
i. Order Microphagea (Distinguished by a purely filter-feeding
lifestyle)
ii. Order Sarcophagea (Distinguished by the ability to trap and
consume whole animals)
iii. Order Xylifera (Distinguished by the presence of a vascular
system- land sponges)
b. Class Calcifera (Distinguished by the presence of calcareous spicules)
2. Phylum Mycomorpha (Distinguished by primarily subterranean or endobiotic
body structures)