What is Kinorhyncha and how do they move?
Kinorhyncha are small marine pseudocoelomate invertebrates that lack limbs entirely. They move by retracting their head to push forward using numerous spines along their body.
Questions about Kinorhyncha
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the oldest known Kinorhyncha species live?
The oldest known species Eokinorhynchus lived during the Fortunian period of China half a billion years ago. This Cambrian form possessed about twice as many segments as modern forms.
How large can Kinorhyncha grow today compared to ancient ancestors?
Modern Kinorhyncha measure less than one millimeter in size while ancient Cambrian forms could reach lengths up to four millimeters. These organisms inhabit mud or sand at all ocean depths globally.
Which genus contains the most diverse Kinorhyncha species?
The genus Echinoderes holds more than 100 species alone making it the most diverse and abundant kinorynch genus globally. Other genera like Cephalorhyncha accommodate only one to nine species each.
What is the reproductive strategy of Kinorhyncha regarding egg protection?
After laying an egg the female packs it into a protective envelope consisting of mud mixed with organic material. Six juvenile stages occur during development before larvae enter the wild.