micromeetlats

Micromeetlats are a hypothetical group of microscopic aquatic invertebrates used in speculative biology to illustrate micro-ecosystem dynamics. They are described as about 0.25 to 1.0 millimeter long, with a compact dorsoventrally flattened body divided into a rounded prosoma and a slender opisthosoma. The cuticle is flexible and lightly sclerotized, bearing small sensory hairs and two anterior feeding lobes.

Anatomically, they are said to have a simple gut and a diffuse nerve net, with limited circulatory structures. Gas exchange is presumed to occur across the moist body surface, aided by internal channels. Feeding is described as micro-filtering detritus and microalgae.

Habitat and distribution in the speculative framework include quiet freshwater sediments, leaf litter, moss cushions, and shallow tidal microhabitats. They are imagined to occur in temperate and tropical regions, tolerating variations in moisture and salinity in small, localized populations.

Ecology and life cycle are presented as detritivorous and micro-filter feeding organisms that contribute to sediment turnover and nutrient cycling. They are described as having direct development, with no free-swimming larval stage, and a relatively short generation time under favorable conditions.

Taxonomic status is fictional. The term micromeetlats appears in thought experiments and does not correspond to a real clade. The name combines micro- with a constructed suffix intended to evoke a latent, metazoan lineage.