Science The Mongolian Death Worm Discussion

I already have a creature in mind (Mongolian death worm) and will attach the necessary files below: Find a nonexistent invertebrate in any work of art (a movie, an animation, a painting, a novel, or a game), provide a formal description of the animal and complement the missing information to describe its taxonomic affinities, internal and external morphology, behavior and ecology, reproduction and life cycle, and, perhaps, its use by humans. There is no limitation on creativity, just stay within the constraints of physical possibilities. you will have to provide a separate section that provides a well-supported criticism on whether the animal would be viable in a real world.

The instructor said that if we include a good illustration of the creature that shows all parts of the body and its anatomy then we don’t need to write much, just enough to describe and cover this aspect of the creature. So, I think with shorter description for each item should be fine. READ CAREFULLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE MAJORITY ARE THE PICTURES!!!

The description should include ▪ General body plan: symmetry/axes, segmentation/metamerism, appendages, skeletons (if applicable) ▪ Major organ systems (up to three organ systems can be absent/reduced) • Epidermis • Musculature • Nervous system • Sensory organs • Body cavities • Digestive system • Excretory system • Circulatory system • Respiratory system • Reproductive system • Reproduction and Life Cycle ◦ Indicate weather an organism reproduces sexually, asexually, or both. ◦ Sexual dimorphism (if present) ◦ Fertilization mode (internal/external/?) ◦ Embryonic development (larval stage description) • Behavior and Ecology ◦ Biogeography: distribution at a global scale ◦ Habitat; ◦ Life style: benthic, pelagic, interstitial, sedentary of mobile, etc. ◦ Feeding and diet

It doesn’t need to be very long 8 pages and the pages include the illustrations, references, and bibliography all in the same document.

I just meant that it doesn’t have to be 8 pages of just writing, it can be shorter as long as it includes all points that are listed in the instruction document. There is no word limit/count.e

Invertebrate Zoology
Scalidophora:
Priapulida
Kinorhyncha
Loricifera
Metazoan Phylogeny
EUMETAZOA
BILATERIA
NEPHROZOA
PROTOSTOMIA
ECDYCOZOA
SCALIDOPHORA
Introvert with scalids
Flosculi receptors
Three-layered cuticle
Ecdysis (moulting)
Lack of locomotory cilia
Phylum Kinorhyncha
Common name: Mud Dragons
~200 species
Size: >1 mm
Bauplan
Tripartite body:
Head
Mouth
cone
Head
Introvert
Protrucible mouth cone
Eversible introvert with bi- or
pentaradially arranged scalids
Neck
Neck
Trunk
zonites
Placids
Trunk (with spines)
Segmented with 11 metameric zonites
Bilateral terminal spines
Terminal
spines
Epidermis
Nonciliated epithelium
Three-layered chitinous cuticle
divided into plates:
Placids (neck)
Dorsal (tegral)
plates
Each zonite with 1 dorsal and 2
ventral plates
Placids
Ventral (sternal) plates
Introvert and Scalids
Styles
Scalids
Body Cavities
Pseudocoel
Small anterior cavity
Interstices
Musculature
Muscles cross-striated and smooth, intraepidermal,
metameric, attached to cuticle
Major muscle bundles
Dorsolateral
Ventrolateral
Intersegmental diagonal
Longitudinal head retractors
Intersegmental muscle fibers
Musculature: Introvert
Support, Movement and Locomotion
Articulation of the trunk by segmental muscles
Introvert extension by hydrostatic pressure created by
diagonal muscle contractions
Borrowing:
Extending head into substratum ➞ Anchoring with
anterior spines ➞ Pulling posterior part forward
Nervous System
Orthogonal grid:
Brain: ganglial ring
Mouth cone nerve ring
2 main midventral +
longitudinal nerve
cords
Circular nerves
Metameric ganglia
D
V
XS
Sense Organs
Scalids (introvert)
Flosculi (trunk): flower-shaped cuticle-covered ciliary collar
receptors
Sensory setae and spots
Photosensitive cephalic ciliary sensory organ (no pigment)
Digestive System
Trunk
Mouth ➞ Buccal cavity ➞ Muscular pharynx ➞
Esophagus ➞ Straight intestine with glands (unknown
function) ➞ Rectum (cuticle-lined) ➞ Anus (on last
segment)
Introvert
(cuticle-lined)
Complete; regionally specialized tract:
Food Capture
Food sucked in by pharyngeal action
Circulatory System
Absent
Excretory System
Protonephridia
Clusters of fused terminal cells
Paired
In segment 8
Nephridioducts
Nephridiopore in segment 9
Respiratory System
Absent
Gas exchange by diffusion across body wall
Reproductive System
Sexual reproduction
Gonochoristic
Gonads
Sacklike
Paired
Short gonoducts
Gonopores in terminal segment
2-3 cuticular, hollow penile spines in males
General Ecology
Aquatic marine, some brackish
Intertidal to abyssal depth)
Interstitial in soft sediments (sand/mud)
Epifaunal on algal mats and kelp holdfasts
Direct deposit feeders; diatoms, bacteria