Thebootlace worm(Lineus longissimus) is a species ofribbon wormand one of the longest known animals, with specimens up to 55 m (180 ft) long being reported.[1]Itsmucusis highly toxic.[2]
| Bootlace worm | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Nemertea |
| Class: | Pilidiophora |
| Order: | Heteronemertea |
| Family: | Lineidae |
| Genus: | Lineus |
| Species: | L. longissimus
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| Binomial name | |
| Lineus longissimus (Gunnerus,1770)
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Taxonomy
editThe bootlace worm is in the phylumNemerteaor ribbon worms. It is the most common nemertean found along thecoastsofBritain.[3]
Description
editBootlace worms may grow very long but are usually only 5 to 10 millimetres (0.20 to 0.39 in) in width. The body is brown with lighter (longitudinal) stripes.[4]Its mucus contains a relatively strongneurotoxinwhich it uses as a defense against predators.[5]When handled, it produces large amounts of thick mucus with a faint pungent smell, reminiscent of iron or sewage.[6]This toxic mucus has been shown to killcrabsandcockroaches,and could have applications as an agriculturalinsecticide.[7]
In 1864,William M'Intoshdescribed a specimen that had washed ashore in the aftermath of a severe storm bySt Andrews,Scotland,which was more than 55 m (180 ft) long,[8]longer than the longest knownlion's mane jellyfish,the animal which is often considered to be thelongest in the world.However, records of extreme length should be taken with caution, because the bodies of nemerteans are flexible and can easily stretch to much more than their usual length.[9]
Like other nemerteans,Lineus longissimusfeeds using itseversibleproboscis.As it is in the classAnopla,its proboscis is not armed with a barbed stylet. Instead, it has a cluster of sticky filaments at the end of its proboscis that it uses to immobilize prey.[citation needed]
Habitat
editLineus longissimuscan be found on Norway's and Britain's coasts, on the Danish east coast and also on Sweden's west coast.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^"Potential insecticide discovered in Earth's longest animal".UQ News.Retrieved2018-03-30.
- ^Strand, M., Sundberg, P. 2010.Lineus longissimusLångsnöre, p. 104 – In:Nationalnyckeln till Sveriges flora och fauna.Stjärnmaskar – slemmaskar. Sipuncula – Nemertea. Artdatabanken, SLU, Uppsala,ISBN978-91-88506-72-6
- ^"Discovery Zone - Bootlace Worm".shetland.uhi.ac.uk.Retrieved2023-04-22.
- ^"MarLIN – The Marine Life Information Network – Bootlace worm (Lineus longissimus)".marlin.ac.uk.Retrieved2018-03-30.
- ^"Bootlace Worm: Earth's Longest Animal Produces Powerful Toxin".Sci.News.
- ^Milius, Susan (2018-03-30)."Toxins from the world's longest animal can kill cockroaches".Science News.Retrieved2018-03-30.
- ^"Insect toxin detected in the world's longest animal".ScienceDaily.Retrieved2018-03-30.
- ^Gerald L. WoodAnimal Facts and Feats: A Guinness Record of the Animal Kingdom,pg 334.
- ^Laidlaw, Shawn (2020-11-23)."Ribbon Worm - Facts and Beyond".Biology Dictionary.Retrieved2023-04-22.
External links
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