Classification

Domain: Eukarya
    Kingdom: Animalia
        Phylum: Chordata
            Class:Cephalaspidomorphi
                Order: Petromyzontiformes
                    Family: Petromyzontidae
                        Genus:  PetromyzonSpecies: Petromyzon marinus

 Domain: Eukarya
Members of this domain have a true nucleus and other organelles bound within the cell membrane. Bighead carp are also classified under this domain.


Kingdom: Animalia
Members of this kingdom are multicellular, heterotrophic organisms composed of eukaryotic cells.  The cells of these organisms are organized into differentiated tissues.  Silver carp are also classified under this kingdom.


Phylum: Chordata
Members of this phylum are characterized for having the following at one point during their lifetime: a notochord, a hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal pouches, an endostyle, and a post-anal tail.  The pumpkin seed fish is also part of this phylum.  
 
Class: Cephalaspidomorphi
Members of this class are classified as jawless fish that lack true fins, jaws, and bones.  


Order: Petromyzontiformes
Members of this order have a long, skinny eel-like body, and lack bones and paired fins.  


Family: Petromyzontidae
Members of this family have a scaleless body, round disk-like mouth and lack pectoral or pelvic fins.  The members of this family also have seven pairs of gill openings.  


Genus: Petromyzon
Members of the genus are classified as lampreys.  

Species: Petromyzon marinus
This species was first discovered by Linnaeus in 1758.  
The name of the species is derived as follows:
      petro: “stone”
      myzon: “to suckle”
      marinus: “pertaining to the sea”


P. marinus are classified under the major clade, opisthokonta and phylum, animal because;
       Its cells have a true nucleus.
      The sperm of male organism has a single posterior flagellum.
      The organism is multicellular and heterotrophic.

P. marinus are classified under the phylum chordata because of the following:
      They have three types of tissues.
      They have bilateral symmetry.
      The anus was first to develop.
      They have a notochord. 

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