Gastrotricha are free-living microscopic invertebrates, characterized by a meiobenthic life style in freshwater and marine habitats. In spite of the high number of individuals and their ecological importance, this taxon is underestimated in Brazil. Considering the importance of the Gastrotricha in the interstitial benthic community we aimed to help and stimulate new research with this group in Brazil. Thus, the present study provides a taxonomic key for the Brazilian freshwater and marine Gastrotricha based on the available data. Furthermore, we pointed out methods of collecting, preserving and photographing Gastrotricha. Portuguese terminologies of the main morphological characters used to identify species were also listed as a glossary.
Meiofauna; Benthos; Biodiversity; Systematic; Psammic; Marine species; Freshwater species
