Using a metagenomics approach we sought to uncover the small RNA response to viruses and TEs in anciently divergent animals, and a brown alga. Using RNA-seq data, we thus sought to reveal the phylogenetic distribution of defensive RNAi responses in Metaoza, and in a eukaryote with an independent evolutionary origin of multicellularity. Our target taxa were: Nucella lapillus (Dog whelk), Lumbricus and Amynthas spps. (Earthworms), Asterias rubens (Common starish) Halichondria panacea (Breadcrumb sponge), Actinia equina (beadlet anemone), and Fucus serratus (Serrated wrack).