Gnathostomulids

Gnathostomulids are tiny worms that live in between the grains of particularly fine marine sands, especially those that have little or no oxygen and high levels of hydrogen sulphide.

Gnathostomulids may reach 3 mm, but most are between 0.5 and 1.0 mm in length, and extremely slender. All have long bodies, and some are thread-like.

Food

Their food appears to be bacteria which are scraped off the sand grains by a comb on the mouth of the worm.

Locomotion

Gnathostomulids have cilia in their skin which help them to move.

Reproduction

Most Gnathostomulids are hermaphrodites.