| Limnognathia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Schematic drawing of Limnognathia maerski | |
| |
| Microscopic on L. maerski | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Subkingdom: | Eumetazoa |
| Clade: | ParaHoxozoa |
| Clade: | Bilateria |
| Clade: | Nephrozoa |
| (unranked): | Protostomia |
| (unranked): | Spiralia |
| Clade: | Gnathifera |
| Phylum: | Micrognathozoa |
| Order: | Limnognathida |
| Family: | Limnognathiidae |
| Genus: | Limnognathia |
| Species: | L. maerski
|
| Binomial name | |
| Limnognathia maerski Kristensen & Funch, 2000
| |
Limnognathia maerski is a microscopic acoelomate freshwater animal, discovered living in cold springs on Disko Island, Greenland, in 1994.[1] Since then, it has also been found on the Crozet Islands of Antarctica[2] as well as in the British Isles,[3] suggesting a worldwide distribution, although there are likely different species yet to be described.
With an average length of 100 micrometers (μm), it is one of the smallest known animals.
Etymology of Micrognathozoa: From the Greek Micros (= very small) Gnathos (= jaw) and Zoon (= animal)
L. maerski is the only species that belongs to the Micrognathozoa, a relatively new phylum of animals that was only described in 2000.[4][5]
- ^ Gastrotricha and Gnathifera
- ^ de Smet, W.H. (2002). "A new record of Limnognathia maerski [Kristensen & Funch, 2000] (Micrognathozoa) from the subantarctic Crozet Islands, with redescription of the trophi". Journal of Zoology. 258: 381–393. doi:10.1017/S095283690200153X.
- ^ Worsaae and Kristensen, 2016
- ^ Nielson, Claus (17 December 2013). "33". Animal Evolution: Interrelationships of the Living Phyla (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199606023.001.0001. ISBN 9780191774706.
- ^ Ramel, Gordon (21 February 2021). "Phylum Micrognathozoa". Earth Life.