#ribbon worms

[taxonomytournament]

Taxonomy Tournament: Spiralia

Phoronida. This phylum is made up of marine filter-feeders, known as horseshoe worms

Nemertea. This phylum, known as the ribbon worms, is made up of mostly carnivorous worms with a proboscis

[dougdimmadodo]

Common Atlantic Ribbon Worm (Tubulanus polymorphus)

Family: Tubulanus Family (Tubulanidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Unassessed

Like other ribbon worms, this brightly coloured marine worm has a relatively long but extremely thin unsegmented body, and is an active predator; after locating prey using a set of chemical-sensing pits on its head it extends a sticky, flexible, tube-like appendage known as a proboscis (although unlike the proboscises of some insects this structure is separate from their digestive system) from just above it mouth, ensnaring prey and injecting it with paralysing venom. After prey (mainly smaller marine invertebrates, especially other worms) has been subdued the proboscis either passes it into a simple mouth or, if its too large to be swallowed whole, secretes fluids that break food down externally to accommodate for the worm's lack of an ability to chew.

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Image Source: Here

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Lace Up with the Bootlace Worm

Appropriately named, the bootlace worm (Lineus longissimus) is a species of ribbon worm, which are known for their long, slender bodies. The bootlace worm in particular is often credited with being the longest species in this group, and perhaps one of the longest known animals in the world. Though they're only about 5 to 10 mm (0.20 to 0.39 in) around, most bootlace worms can be anywhere from 10 to 15 m (32 to 49 ft) long. Some reports of individuals as long as 30 to 55 m (98 to 180 ft) have been recorded, but few have been confirmed. L. longissimus is relatively uniform in appearence, with a dark purple or brown body and few distinct facial features.

Like most other ribbon worms, the bootlace worm is a marine species. They're most often found along the coasts of northern Europe, especially washed up on beaches or in tide pools. L. longissimus has a fairly basic anatomy; it has no heart or spine, and a simple digestive system. They feed opportunistically on a variety of other invertebrates, including mussels, clams, annelids, and crustaceans, as well as animal carcasses. When a bootlace worm encounters a potential meal, it expels a special feeding structure called the "proboscis" from a special pouch inside its mouth. The force that propels the probiscis towards its prey also turns it inside out. Once they find their prey, the bootlace worm latches on and injects a neurotoxin that paralyses or kills its target. When L. longissimus itself becomes prey, typically by larger crustaceans or fish, it secretes a toxin-filled mucus from its skin that impairs the predators and allows the worm to escape-- much like another worm-like creature, the hagfish.

Little is known about L. longissimus's reproductive biology. The group it belongs to, ribbon worms, are highly variable and have distinct male and female sexes, or individuals can carry the gonads of both. Sexually reproductive ribbon worms often release eggs and sperm into the water, where they fertilize and become microscopic larvae. Ribbon worms, including the bootlace worm, can also split into segments when disturbed; each segment then has the ability to fully regenerate an entire body. The lifespan of the bootlace worm is also unknown, although it's likely only 1-2 years, like most other ribbon worms.

Conservation status: The bootlace worm has not been evaluated by the IUCN. However, as it is primarily found along coasts and in tide pools, populations are likely stable barring extreme habitat disturbance or pollution.

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Photos

Cédric Audibert

Sion Roberts

João Pedro Silva via iNaturalist

[crevicedwelling]

huh. seems like the nemerteans really like spiders. a shame I missed the proboscis strike

[nat-stimmy]

Ribbon Worm (SOURCE)

[cherrysaltvape41]

[taphonomenon]

Sick of people claiming they love animals but go "kill it with fire" when they see a reptile or an invertebrate

[shpepyao]

At draft stage this was a sea horse At line stage this was a birdie  And it ended up being an eldritch worm Man I love drawing 

[vintagewildlife]

Bootlace worm (Lineus longissimus) By: M. A. Wilson From: Éditions Rencontre Cards 1978

[sesamenom]

a handful of mercreatures

[quinn-pop]

im not sure what happened to me but suddenly i love queen ripple and she’s my new dress up doll

anyway, let’s talk about her!!

taking the fact that ribbon’s name is ribbon entirely too far (and going off their designs) i think it’d be cool if ripple star fashions leaned into frills, bows, and long or exaggerated silhouettes

since the planet is literally just a heart shape i imagine their aesthetics lean into that sort of romantic and elegant vibe. a lot of ivory, pinks, and reds

(ripple dresses up a little different to see her friends tho)

also flower and butterfly motifs. because they’re fairies of course <3

think it’d be a little ironic if butterflies were a symbol of beauty and all that…

also she’s friends with carol and dedede. they can go to pta meetings or something /j

(taranza can come sometimes too because he’s cool and it makes sense to me)

btw ripple star probably exports a lot of silks (because silkworms in a land of butterflies feels right) and luxury items whereas dreamland is more agriculture focused + maybe some livestock and furs

…yeah i’m saying these places reflect their rulers basically. ripple star can be a little more traditional and whatnot. that’s what makes ripple so endeared to her dreamland friends—they’re silly! and yeah, tragic princess angle, it’s my favorite trope—i think that would really pull at her heart

i won’t get into that right now, but i gotta imagine getting possessed gives you a lot to think about lol

…gah i have so many thoughts on this

there isn’t much to go off of in canon, sure, but i think there’s a lot of interesting directions something like that could go ^^

[taxonomytournament]

Taxonomy Tournament: Spiralia

Lingulida. Brachiopods of this order have a long shell and a fleshy stalk with which it burrows into sand/mud. Includes Lingula, the oldest animal genus with species still alive today

Nemertea. This phylum, known as the ribbon worms, is made up of mostly carnivorous worms with a proboscis

[weadtlys-art]

These guys are the only ones left!! All 5 dollars (TOYHOUSE IS @/weadtly)

[chaotic-minds-think-alike]

Them,,,,,,

My 2 most favorite slugcat mods and I just had to make a guy for the parasite,,

[crevicedwelling]

realized I hadn’t fed my Geonemertes in two weeks, so I offered it an isopod. didn’t expect to see it strike, so the video isn’t the sharpest, but what a cool way of hunting!

the worm fires its sticky proboscis like a harpoon, presumably injecting venom at some point.

this is Geonemertes pelaensis, one of a scant few terrestrial examples of a mostly marine phylum (Nemertea). it’s an invasive species in the US and elsewhere, implicated in lowering counts of some soil arthropods.

it also has a very cute face.

[sorrowgrove]

ribbongirl enjoying nature for @neensies !!!