Loricifera

Loricifera
Temporal range: Middle Cambrian–Recent[1] (total group)
Pliciloricus enigmaticus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
Clade: ParaHoxozoa
Clade: Bilateria
Clade: Nephrozoa
(unranked): Protostomia
Superphylum: Ecdysozoa
Phylum: Loricifera
Kristensen, 1983[2]
Families

Loricifera (from Latin, lorica, corselet (armour) + ferre, to bear) is a phylum of very small to microscopic marine cycloneuralian sediment-dwelling animals with 43 described species.[3] and approximately 100 more that have been collected and not yet described.[4] Their sizes range from 100 μm to ca. 1 mm.[5]

They are characterised by a protective outer case called a lorica and their habitat is in the spaces between marine gravel to which they attach themselves. The phylum was discovered in 1983 by R.M. Kristensen, near Roscoff, France.[6] They are among the most recently discovered groups of animals.[7] They attach themselves quite firmly to the substrate, and hence remained undiscovered for so long.[8] The first specimen was collected in the 1970s, and described in 1983.[7] They are found at all depths, in different sediment types, and in all latitudes.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Peel-Stein-Kristensen-2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kristensen-1983 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Neves-Kirstensen-Møbjerg-2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gad-2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Heiner-2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Heiner-Kristensen-2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Kristensen-2002 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Ruppert-Fox-Barnes-2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).