Kinorhyncha

Kinorhyncha (Gr. kinema motion + rhyncho snout) is        Kinorhynchs
a phylum of small (1 mm or less) marine            Scientific classification
pseudocoelomate invertebrates that are widespread
in mud or sand at all depths. They are sometimes   Kingdom: Animalia
called mud dragons.                                Phylum:  Kinorhyncha

They are segmented, with a body consisting of a             Orders
head, neck, and a trunk of 11 segment. They do not Order Cyclorhagida
have external cilia, but instead have a number of  Order Homalorhagida
spines along the body, plus several circles of
spines around the head, which they use for locomotion, withdrawing the head
and pushing forward, then holding with the spines while drawing up the body.
The spines are part of a cuticle secreted by the epidermis; this is molted
several times while growing to adulthood. The head is completely
retractable, and is covered by a set of neck plates called placids when
retracted.

Kinorhynchs eat diatoms and whatever else they can find in the mud.

There two sexes that look alike, and the larvae are free-living, but little
else is known of their reproductive process.

At one time, they were considered to be a class within a phylum
Cephalorhyncha that included Loricifera and Priapulida. The two groups of
Kinorhynchs are still generally characterized as orders rather than classes.

About 150 species are known.

Order Cyclorhagida

   * Suborder Cyclorhagae
        o Family Echinoderidae
        o Family Zelinkaderidae
        o Family Centroderidae
        o Family Dracoderidae
   * Suborder Conchorhagae
        o Family Semnoderidae
   * Suborder Cryptorhagae
        o Family Cateriidae

Order Homalorhagida

   * Suborder Homalorhagae
        o Family Pycnophyidae
        o Family Neocentrophyidae

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