Lepidodasys. Coloured Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) of the mouth of the microscopic, sand-dwell- ing worm Lepidodasys, a type of gastrotrich. The

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Lepidodasys. Coloured Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) of the mouth of the microscopic, sand-dwell- ing worm Lepidodasys, a type of gastrotrich. The genus Lepidodasys forms part of the extraordinari- ly diverse \meiofauna\" - a community of primitive, microscopic animals that live in marine sands and graze on dead algae, bacteria and protozoa. The tube-like appendages on the right are adhesive glands. These enable the worm to bind tightly to a grain of sand. The scale-covered body surface pro- tects against bashing in a turbulent environment. A single handful of wet sand is estimated to con- tain up to 10,000 diverse animals like Lepidodasys worms. Magnification: x750 at 5x7cm size. x1160 at 4x5\""

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Size: 3072px × 2262px
Photo credit: © DAVID SCHARF/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, beach, fauna, gastrotrich, gastrotricha, invertebrate, invertebrates, lepidodasys, meio-fauna, mouth, nature, wildlife, zoology