Gratacurvatis gyrodacna

“Pleasingly curved spinning-biter”
Kingdom
Microsynthera
Phylum
Plasticae
Class
Occlupanida
Order
Orthogonidectes
Family
Archignathidae
Genus
Gratacurvatis
Species
G. gyrodacna
External morphology

Concave lateral sides, and miniscule palps. Size 21.6 mm x 23.2 mm

Discovered by field researcher O. Zeliger in a hardware store in Philadelphia, PA. The host of Gratacurvatis gyrodacna appears to be shortened screw drivers. The occlupanid is directly latched onto the screw driver instead of any plastic bag or intermediary entity, as this detailed illustration from Zeliger’s field notes makes clear. Its enlarged oral groove seems especially adapted to this unique niche.