Karyorelictea

Karyorelictea is a class of ciliates in the subphylum Postciliodesmatophora. Most species are members of the microbenthos community, that is, microscopic organisms found in the marine interstitial habitat, though one genus, Loxodes, is found in freshwater.

Loxodes is a genus of karyorelictean ciliates, belonging to Loxodidae. It is the only known karyorelictean ciliate that lives in freshwater habitats. The genus is known for its distinctive morphology, including a relatively large, flattened body and unique nuclear structures. It is also known to exhibit fascinating behaviours, such as geotaxis and light sensitivity.