Cothurnia and other peritrichs were among the first microbes observed by Antoine van Leeuwenhoek upon the invention of his microscope in the 17th century.

[10] However, Jankowski noted that C.imberbis was not desirable to be a type species because it was understudied and difficult to do so; apparently unaware of Bacon's extensive study of it.

In Ehrenberg's 1839 publication with Louis Mandl entitled Traité pratique du microscope et de son emploi dans l'étude des corps organisés, they provided the definite description of Cothurnia.

When feeding, the zooid slowly extends out of its lorica and rhythmically beats its oral cilia to generate a vortex to draw its prey towards its peristomal lip.

The scopula produces a short, non-contractile stalk that protrudes through an aperture at the aboral end of its lorica to affix the organism to surfaces.

With the help of two contractile vacuoles and vestibular membranes, fission starts at the distal end and the zooid divides in the mid-longitudinal (apical/basal) plane.

The relationship is usually commensal in nature, as no damage is observed on the surface of the host (even when the epibiont is present in large numbers).

[13] In 2014, Álvarez-Campos et al. discovered the first epibiotic relationship between Cothurnia and a syllid polychaete that has not previously been observed before.

[13] In some crustaceans however, the epibiotic relationship can be detrimental to the host, because of competition for food or negative effects on locomotion or sensory functions.