''Macrodasys caudatus'' is a species of microscopic worm-like metazoan in the family

Macrodasyidae Macrodasyidae is a family of worms belonging to the order Macrodasyida Macrodasyida is an order (biology), order of gastrotrichs. Members of this order are somewhat worm-like in form, and not more than 1 to 1.5 mm in length. Macrodasyids ...

in the phylum Gastrotricha. It lives in the interstices between particles of sediment on the seabed in shallow water. It is found in the Indian Ocean, the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the North Sea.

Morphology

The body is worm-shaped with small adhesive tubes (spine-like structures) on the lateral sides. The head is not distinct. The pharyngeal pores are located in mid-pharyngeal region. Macrodasys3

Ecology

''Macrodasys caudatus'' is an aquatic, microscopic worm with a body length of . It can be found in marine waters. It is meiobenthic and lives between the sand grains and particles (interstitial) on the seabed. ''Macrodasys caudatus'' is acoelomate and swallows its food by powerful sucking action of the muscular pharynx. It is a

detritivore Detritivores (also known as detrivores, detritophages, detritus feeders, or detritus eaters) are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing plant and animal parts as well as feces). There are many kinds of invertebrates, ...

and its diet consists of small

protozoa Protozoa (singular: protozoan or protozoon; alternative plural: protozoans) are a group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic tissues and debris. Histo ...

ns,

microalgae Microalgae or microphytes are microscopic algae invisible to the naked eye. They are phytoplankton typically found in freshwater and marine systems, living in both the water column and sediment. They are unicellular species which exist indiv ...

and bacteria. In turn it is preyed upon by small macrofauna and turbellarians. Macrodasys4

Systematics

In year 2013, 310 species of the order Macrodasyida has been described, of which two are not marine species. Although Gastrotricha is a diverse phylum with high abundance, the phylogenetic relations are still unclear. Recent phylogenetic studies based on gene 18S ribosomalt RNA and expressed sequence tag (EST), indicate that Gastrotricha is a member of platyzoa.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2750258 Gastrotricha Animals described in 1927