Branchiostoma bennetti, the mud lancelet, is a lancelet of the genus Branchiostoma endemic to the Gulf of Mexico, where it is found in the northern part.
| Branchiostoma bennetti | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Leptocardii |
| Family: | Branchiostomatidae |
| Genus: | Branchiostoma |
| Species: | B. bennetti |
| Binomial name | |
| Branchiostoma bennetti Boschung & Gunter, 1966 [1] | |
Description
Like other lancelets in the genus Branchiostoma, B. bennetti occurs in inshore waters where it burrows into sand or muddy sand at depths down to about 12 m (40 ft). The body is laterally flattened and pointed at both ends. It has a long dorsal fin and another fin on its ventral surface, and a caudal fin at the rear end.[2] B. bennetti differs from other western Atlantic lancelets for having the longest buccal cirri among them. These cirri are further unique in this region because of their extended lateral projections.[3] It is presumed that these unique buccal cirri are an adaptation to living in a muddier habitat than other species.[3]