The gastrotrichs, commonly referred to as hairybellies or hairybacks, are a group of microscopic (0.06-3.0 mm), cylindrical, acoelomate animals, and are widely distributed and abundant in freshwater and marine environments. They are mostly benthic and live within the periphyton, the layer of tiny organisms and detritus that is found on the seabed and the beds of other water bodies. The majority live on and between particles of sediment or on other submerged surfaces, but a few species are terrestrial and live on land in the film of water surrounding grains of soil. Gastrotrichs are divided into two orders, the Macrodasyida which are marine, and the Chaetonotida, some of which are marine and some freshwater. Nearly 800 species of gastrotrich have been described.
Macrodasyida is an order of gastrotrichs. Members of this order are somewhat worm-like in form, and not more than 1 to 1.5 mm in length.
Paucitubulatina is a suborder of gastrotrichs in the order Chaetonotida.
Diuronotus aspetos is a species of large sized meiofaunal chaetonotid gastrotrich found in the North Atlantic. With Diuronotus rupperti, it is one of the only two species representing the genus Diuronotus.
Thaumastoderma heideri belongs to the phylum Gastrotricha and the order Macrodasyida, which are worm shaped, mainly marine species of meiofauna. They live in coarser sand and like the rest of the gastrotrichs their movement is very slow. The family Thaumastodermatidae includes more than 130 species and it can be found widely across the globe.
Neodasys is a genus of gastrotrichs in the class Chaetonotida. It is the only genus in the family Neodasyidae, which is the only family in the suborder Multitubulatina.
Dasydytidae is a family of gastrotrichs in the order Chaetonotida.
Heterolepidoderma is a genus of gastrotrichs belonging to the family Chaetonotidae.
Aspidiophorus is a genus of gastrotrichs belonging to the family Chaetonotidae.
Ichthydium is a genus of gastrotrichs belonging to the family Chaetonotidae.
Lepidodermella is a genus of gastrotrichs belonging to the family Chaetonotidae.
Polymerurus is a genus of gastrotrichs belonging to the family Chaetonotidae.
Rhomballichthys is a genus of gastrotrichs belonging to the family Chaetonotidae.
Dasydytes is a genus of gastrotrichs belonging to the family Dasydytidae.
Haltidytes is a genus of gastrotrichs belonging to the family Dasydytidae.
Setopus is a genus of gastrotrichs belonging to the family Dasydytidae.
Halichaetonotus is a genus of gastrotrichs belonging to the family Chaetonotidae.
Tetranchyroderma is a genus of gastrotrichs belonging to the family Thaumastodermatidae.
Acanthodasys is a genus of worms belonging to the family Thaumastodermatidae.
Diplodasys is a genus of worms belonging to the family Thaumastodermatidae.
