Any microscopic, worm-like animal belonging to the phylum Gastrotricha, found in water and moist sediments.
From Greek 'gastro-' (stomach or belly) + 'trich' (hair, from 'thrix'). The name refers to these creatures' distinctive cilia (hair-like structures) arranged along their bellies for movement.
Gastrotrichs are some of Earth's tiniest animals—you need a microscope to see them, but they're everywhere in wet environments, and they're thought to be important food for tiny aquatic animals like rotifers and nematodes!
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