Gnathifera (Spiralia)

Gnathifera; Temporal range:
	Pseudosagitta maxima (Chaetognatha)
	Brachionus quadridentatus (Rotifera)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Subkingdom:	Eumetazoa
Clade:	ParaHoxozoa
Clade:	Bilateria
Clade:	Nephrozoa
Clade:	Protostomia
Clade:	Spiralia
Clade:	Gnathifera; Ahlrichs, 1995
Phyla
	Gnathostomulida; Micrognathozoa; Rotifera Pararotatoria Seisonidae; Acanthocephala(?); †Juracanthocephalus; ; Acanthocephala; Eurotatoria; ; †Inquicus; †Fimbulispina; †Dakorhachis?; Total group Chaetognatha (likely a sister-clade to Gnathifera) †Nectocarididae; †Timorebestia; Cucullophora †Amiskwia; Chaetognatha; ; ;
Synonyms
	Chaetognathifera? (chaetognaths are sometimes found to nest within this clade);

Gnathifera (from the Greek gnáthos, "jaw", and the Latin -fera, "bearing") is a clade of generally small spiralians characterized by complex jaws made of chitin. It comprises the phyla Gnathostomulida, Rotifera and Micrognathozoa. Chaetognatha has recently been recognised as closely related to the group, with it either being included within Gnathifera or the broader group Chaetognathifera.

Chaetognathiferans include some of the most abundant phyla. Rotifers are among the most diverse and abundant freshwater animals and chaetognaths are among the most abundant marine plankton.