Problems determining the phylogenetic position of echiurans and pogonophorans with limited data

The phylogenetic position of Echiura and Pogonophora was recently reconside red using 346 bp of elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1 alpha). On the basis of these results alone it was suggested that the relationships of Annelida be reconsidered and that the systematics of the group changed accordingly. An examination of these data, however, reveals difficulties in the original a nalysis that relate to weighting and the relative inclusion or exclusion of available characters and of taxa. Wholesale revision of the systematics of Annelida or of groups therein awaits the availability of more comprehensiv e work. (C) 1998 The Willi Hennig Society.