Vinctiplicata
Encyclopedia
The Vinctiplicata is a clade of scalidophoran uniting the loricifera
and the priapulida, and representing the sister group to the kinorhyncha
. Its monophyly is supported on morphological grounds, although recent molecular studies indicate that the loricifera may be more closely related to the Nematomorpha
.
Loricifera
Loricifera is a phylum of very small to microscopic marine sediment-dwelling animals with twenty-two described species, in eight genera. Aside from these described species, there are approximately 100 more that have been collected and not yet described. Their size ranges from 100 µm to ca....
and the priapulida, and representing the sister group to the kinorhyncha
Kinorhyncha
Kinorhyncha is a phylum of small marine pseudocoelomate invertebrates that are widespread in mud or sand at all depths as part of the meiobenthos...
. Its monophyly is supported on morphological grounds, although recent molecular studies indicate that the loricifera may be more closely related to the Nematomorpha
Nematomorpha
Nematomorpha is a phylum of parasitic animals that are superficially morphologically similar to nematode worms, hence the name. They range in size in most species from long and can reach in extreme cases up to 2 metres, and in diameter...
.