Polyplacotoma

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Polyplacotoma mediterranea is a species of placozoan in the phylum Placozoa and the only member of the genus Polyplacotoma. It was discovered in the Mediterranean Sea and is so different from other placozoans in its appearance and genes that scientists placed it in its own class, Polyplacotomia.

.txtIn terms of its genome, P. mediterranea has the smallest mitochondrial genome among placozoans, the lowest GC content, and the shortest intergenic spacer regions. Its body is made of long, branched extensions and can be over 10 mm in length, and it has been observed eating algae. Its mitochondrial genome is very compact with overlapping protein and tRNA genes. Genetically, it differs greatly from other placozoans: it lacks about 600 orthologous genes common in other placozoans and has 76 genes that are unique to it, while about 600 genes are uniquely missing. The mitochondrial genome is about 23,000 base pairs, roughly half the size of that of Trichoplax adhaerens, a more typical placozoan.

Overall, Polyplacotoma mediterranea represents a distinct lineage within Placozoa, with unique genetic and morphological features that set it apart from other placozoans.