A Review on Taxonomy of Phylum Kinorhyncha

Abstract

Kinorhyncha is exclusively marine, holobenthic, free-living, meiofaunal species found in all marine habitats in the world. However, information on geographical distribution and taxonomical distributional status of Kinorhyncha are needed further understanding. This research article presents a compiled, up-to-date checklist of the Phylum Kinorhyncha based on bibliographical survey and revision of taxon names. Present checklist of this phylum comprises 271 species belonging to 30 genera and 13 families. The families are distributed under three orders, Echinorhagata Sørensen et al. 2015, Kentrorhagata Sørensen et al. 2015, Xenosomata Zelinka, 1907. Among the 271 valid species, in the last five years 82 new species emerged, two new orders and three families were described. It also includes nine new genera. This checklist could serve as a valuable tool to encourage comparison of inter and intra-regional research on Kinorhyncha as well as it can be used as baseline data for future taxonomical revision.