Well, as usual, there are problematic groups & no clear consensus. For
example, both the Acanthocephala & the Tardigrada are listed as separate
phyla in Margulis & Schwartz. But the Acanthocephala probably belong in the
same phylum with the Rotifera & the Tardigrada may belong in the Arthropoda.
Even the cycliophorans may be rotifers. So the number of phyla is probably
less than 34, but close to 30.

Aydin

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Wolff [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 9:50 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Phyla
>
>
> Thirty-four!!!  Really?  I thought there were half a dozen...
> Thank you.
>
> >>>How many animal Phyla are there these days?
> >>>I know about Mollusca..
>
> >>As of 1988, there were 33 generally accepted phyla in the
> kingdom animalia.
>
> >Add to that the Cycliophora described in 1995.
>
>
>
> John Wolff
> 2640 Breezewood Dr.
> Lancaster, PA 17601-4804
>