Desmopterus pacificus
Distribution:
Endemic to the eastern Pacific.
Habitat:
Epipelagic.
Size:
1 - 3 mm
Diet:
Feeds on microplankton.
Useful Facts or Characters:
Shell-less, barrel-shaped body with a head that is bent toward the ventral side. Strongly developed wings that are divided into five lobes. One lobe is the median with two lobes on either side. A tentacle is inserted between each pair of lobes.
Natural History:
Desmopterus papilio is a closely related species in the Pacific, but has longer tentacles than Desmopterus pacificus.