Salinella | |
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Johannes Frenzel's illustrations, 1892 | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Monoblastozoa R. Blackwelder, 1963 |
Genus: | Salinella J. Frenzel, 1891[1] |
Species: | S. salve
|
Binomial name | |
Salinella salve |
Salinella salve is a dubious species of a very simple animal which some have named as the sole member of the phylum Monoblastozoa. It was discovered in 1892 by Johannes Frenzel in the salt pans of Córdoba Province, Argentina and cultivated in a laboratory by him. This animal has not been found since and its real existence is considered as doubtful.[2][3] A project involving Michael Schrödl from the Zoological State Collection in Munich searched for Salinella in salt lakes across Argentina and Chile, but failed to find any specimens.[4][5][6]