Diurodrilus Explained

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 in other annelids, including a ventral creeping foot.^{[1] [2]} Analyses of DNA have both refuted and supported placement within the annelids,^{[2] [3]} with the unusual morphology perhaps due to evolutionary progenesis, in which organisms develop sexual maturity while retaining the larval traits of their ancestors.^[3]

The following species are recognised:^{[2] [4]}

• Diurodrilus minimus Remane, 1925
• Diurodrilus ankeli Ax, 1967
• Diurodrilus benazzii Gerlach, 1953
• Diurodrilus dohrni Gerlach, 1952
• Diurodrilus subterraneus Remane, 1934
• Diurodrilus westheidei Kristensen & Niilonen, 1982

Notes and References

1. 10.1111/j.1463-6409.1982.tb00514.x. Structural Studies on Diurodrilus Remane (Diurodrilidae fam.n.), with Description of Diurodrilus westheidei sp.n. From the Arctic Interstitial Meiobenthos, W. Greenland. Zoologica Scripta. 11. 1–12. 1982. Kristensen . R. M. . Niilonen . T. . 84404993.
2. Katrine Worsaae & Greg W. Rouse . 2008 . Is Diurodrilus an annelid? . . 269 . 12 . 1426–1455 . 10.1002/jmor.10686 . 18985766. Rouse . 43708549 .
3. Golombek. Anja. Tobergte. Sarah. Nesnidal. Maximilian P.. Purschke. Günter. Struck. Torsten H.. Mitochondrial genomes to the rescue – Diurodrilidae in the myzostomid trap. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2013. 68. 2. 312–326. 10.1016/j.ympev.2013.03.026. 23563272.
4. Kristian Fauchald & Gérard Bellan . 2012 . Diurodrilus Remane, 1925 . Polychaeta . 129257 . September 12, 2012.