Limnognathia

Limnognathia
Schematic drawing of Limnognathia maerski
Microscopic view of L. maerski
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Clade: Spiralia
Clade: Gnathifera
Phylum: Micrognathozoa
Funch & Kristensen, 1995
Order: Limnognathida
Funch & Kristensen, 1995
Family: Limnognathiidae
Funch & Kristensen, 1995
Genus: Limnognathia
Funch & Kristensen, 1995
Species
  • Limnognathia maerski Funch & Kristensen, 2000
  • Limnognathia desmeti Worsaae & Møller, 2025

Limnognathia is a genus of microscopic acoelomate freshwater animal that was discovered in Disko Island, Greenland, in 1994. Since then, it has also been found on the Crozet Islands of Antarctica as well as in the British Isles and the Spanish Pyrenees, suggesting a worldwide distribution. There are two known species of Limnognathia: L. maerski, described in 2000, and L. desmeti, described in 2025.

Limnognathia is the only genus in the phylum Micrognathozoa ("small-jawed animal").