Jaw Animals: Micrognathozoa

Limnognathia maerski is the only species of jaw animals. These animals are 0.004 to 0.006 inch (100 to 150 micrometers) long. The body is divided into a head, an accordion-like chest, and an abdomen. Jaw animals have plates between the cells of the body covering of their back and sides. The bottom surface of the animals is covered with hairlike fibers. The sensing system is a series of bristles. The digestive system is made up of a highly complex jaw, a simple intestine, and an anus (AY-nuhs) that rarely opens.