Nina Therese Mikkelsen

My research focuses on the phylogeny and systematics of aculiferan molluscs. The clade Aculifera consists of the aplacophoran molluscs (Mollusca, Aplacophora) and chitons (Polyplacophora). The shell-less, worm-shaped morphology of the aplacophoran Caudofoveata (=Chaetodermomorpha) and Solenogastres (=Neomeniomorpha) is unique among the Mollusca. These exclusively marine molluscs are characterised by a mantle covered in calcareous sclerites, and reduction or complete loss of the foot. The Polyplacophora share a spicule covered mantle, but in contrast has eight shell plates and a creeping foot.

Aculifera is sister to the remaining Mollusca (Conchifera), thus understanding the evolutionary history of aculiferan molluscs is important for understanding early molluscan evolution. I am using phylogenetic analyses based on morphology and on molecular methods to produce a robust phylogenetic hypothesis of the evolutionary relationships within Aculifera.