The
jaw apparatus is by far the most conspicuous and complicated organ in Limnognathia
maerski. Furthermore, it has been an important key to understand the
phylogenetic position of Micrognathozoa in the Animal Kingdom. Despite the
animals minute size the jaws are composed of fifteen independent elements. The
sizes of the elements range from
4 µm to 14 µm (0,004 mm - 0,014 mm) and they are interconnected by muscles
and ligaments. Even though the muscles are extremely small, they are still
anatomically similar to the skeletal muscles in mammals and insects. 