#nemertean

[ethereal-fixation]

Little baby

He’s a very unhappy hoplonemertean

[shrimp-bird]

What it is about Micrura verrili that makes me project such positivity on to them.

This is a worm who politely nods at you and wishes you a good afternoon before engulfing some hapless lesser worm whole.

[green-algae]

Timelapse footage of nemertean worms and sea stars prowling the floor of the Antarctic for meat. Footage by BBC.

[shrimp-bird]

Micrura verilli, a ribbon worm with a sunny snout.

Source: https://inverts.wallawalla.edu/Nemertea/Micrura_verrilli_DLC2011-07s.jpg

[shrimp-bird]

Ribbon worms, or nemerteans, spectacularly elastic carnivores with invertible proboscises. While these are smaller species under 20 cm (Paranemertes peregrina and Emplectonema gracilis), ribbon worms include one of the longest known animals ever, the bootlace worm, Lineus longissimus, with reported lengths of 55 meters or 180 feet.

[green-algae]

A carnivorous, terrestrial nemertean worm appearing to feed on a jumping spider. Image by [wj] on Flickr.

[green-algae]

A shiny, terrestrial nemertean worm photographed by Artour A. 

[green-algae]

A sampling of colorful marine nemertean specimens of various species. These invertebrates are well adapted to ocean life and can be found in both shallow waters and at extreme depths. Images by Nemerteanlaravid.com.