Spinoloricus cinziae

Spinoloricus cinziae is a recently described animal species in the phylum Loricifera.

It is the first animal species described that does not require oxygen at any point during its life. The species, along with two other newly discovered species, Rugiloricus nov. sp. and Pliciloricus nov. sp., were found in the sediment of the anoxic L'Atalante basin of the Mediterranean Sea.

Electron microscope images show that the species' cellular innards appear to be adapted for a zero-oxygen life. Their cells appear to be lacking mitochondria, which use oxygen to generate energy in other animals. Instead, the species appears to have hydrogenosomes, organelles which provide energy in some anaerobic single-celled creatures.

With a visual resemblance to tiny cups with tentacles sticking out, the species has been said to look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.