''Diurodrilus'' is a genus of tiny marine animals that has traditionally been assigned to the
annelid worms, although this
affinity
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is not certain. With a maximum length of 0.45 mm, it has an unusual morphology with many traits not found in other annelids, including a ventral creeping foot.
Analyses of DNA have both refuted and supported placement within the annelids,
with the unusual morphology perhaps due to evolutionary
progenesis
Neoteny (), also called juvenilization,Montagu, A. (1989). Growing Young. Bergin & Garvey: CT. is the delaying or slowing of the physiological, or somatic, development of an organism, typically an animal. Neoteny is found in modern humans compared ...
, in which organisms develop sexual maturity while retaining the larval traits of their ancestors.
The following species are recognised:
* ''
Diurodrilus minimus
''Diurodrilus'' is a genus of tiny marine animals that has traditionally been assigned to the annelid worms, although this affinity is not certain. With a maximum length of 0.45 mm, it has an unusual morphology with many traits not found i ...
'' Remane, 1925
* ''
Diurodrilus ankeli
''Diurodrilus'' is a genus of tiny marine animals that has traditionally been assigned to the annelid worms, although this affinity is not certain. With a maximum length of 0.45 mm, it has an unusual morphology with many traits not found i ...
'' Ax, 1967
* ''
Diurodrilus benazzii
''Diurodrilus'' is a genus of tiny marine animals that has traditionally been assigned to the annelid worms, although this affinity is not certain. With a maximum length of 0.45 mm, it has an unusual morphology with many traits not found i ...
'' Gerlach, 1953
* ''
Diurodrilus dohrni
''Diurodrilus'' is a genus of tiny marine animals that has traditionally been assigned to the annelid worms, although this affinity is not certain. With a maximum length of 0.45 mm, it has an unusual morphology with many traits not found i ...
'' Gerlach, 1952
* ''
Diurodrilus subterraneus
''Diurodrilus'' is a genus of tiny marine animals that has traditionally been assigned to the annelid worms, although this affinity is not certain. With a maximum length of 0.45 mm, it has an unusual morphology with many traits not found i ...
'' Remane, 1934
* ''
Diurodrilus westheidei'' Kristensen & Niilonen, 1982
References
Annelid genera
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