Gastrotricha
/ˌɡastrəˈtrʌɪkə
/plural noun Zoology
A small phylum of minute aquatic worm-like animals which bear bristles and cilia. They are thought to be related to the nematode worms and rotifers.These are the horsehair worms or Nematomorpha and the Gastrotricha....
- With the two examples from Nematomorpha and Gastrotricha I aimed to exemplify these interconnections and show gaps in knowledge that are mainly due to the evaluation of nematomorphs and gastrotrichs as ‘lesser known groups.’
- Furthermore they have several plesiomorphic characters, such as a myoepitheal pharyngeal bulb, comparable to the other Cycloneuralia, especially the Nematoda and Gastrotricha.
Derivatives
gastrotrich
- The body cavity nature varies considerably in these phyla, from complete absence of body cavity in the entoprocts and gastrotrichs to the priapulid body cavity that is actually interpreted as a true coelom by some authors.
- Furthermore, the micrognathozoans have two rows of multiciliated cells that forms a locomotory organ, similar to that in some gastrotrichs and interstitial annelids.
- With the two examples from Nematomorpha and Gastrotricha I aimed to exemplify these interconnections and show gaps in knowledge that are mainly due to the evaluation of nematomorphs and gastrotrichs as ‘lesser known groups.’
Origin
Modern Latin (plural), from Greek gastēr, gastr- 'stomach' + thrix, trikh- 'hair'.