# Lancelet (*Branchiostoma lanceolatum*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/lancelet  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The lancelet (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) is an animal in the phylum Chordata, class Leptocardii and family Branchiostomatidae, listed in the animal group Other invertebrates. Its scientific name carries the authority (Pallas, 1774), and it belongs to the genus Branchiostoma in the kingdom Animalia. Other English names for it include Common Lancelot, European lancelet, European amphioxus and Amphioxus, lancelet.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | marine |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Lifestyle | Marine |
| Conservation status | Not recorded |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Leptocardii
- family: Branchiostomatidae
- genus: Branchiostoma
- species: *Branchiostoma lanceolatum* (Pallas, 1774)

Synonyms: *Amphioxus lanceolatum*, *Amphioxus lanceolatus*, *Brachiostoma lanceolatum*, *Branchiostoma haecklii*, *Branchiostoma lubricum*, *Branchistoma lanceolatum*, *Limax lanceolatus*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the lancelet?

The lancelet is a member of the phylum Chordata and the class Leptocardii, placed in the animal group Other invertebrates.

### What is the scientific name of the lancelet?

The scientific name of the lancelet is Branchiostoma lanceolatum.

### What family does the lancelet belong to?

The lancelet belongs to the family Branchiostomatidae, in the genus Branchiostoma.

### What other names does the lancelet have?

Other English names for the lancelet are Common Lancelot, European lancelet, European amphioxus and Amphioxus, lancelet.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Lancelet (Branchiostoma lanceolatum). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/lancelet