Mazon Creek Best Of The Best Archisymplectes Rhothon Schram, 1973

[RCFossils]

Archisymplectes is an enigmatic worm from the Essex portion of the Mazon Creek Deposit.

It is always preserved as just a color difference within the concretion.

Specimens are nondescript preserving a basic worm shaped body without segmentation or any other obvious structures.

Some specimens preserve an everted proboscis.

This proboscis is what led the original author to classify it as a Nemertean or ribbon worm.

There are no clear Nemerteans known in the fossil record however there are possible candidates dating As far back as the Cambrian.

Ribbon worms are fascinating creatures and hold the distinction of being possibly the longest animal known to exist.

One specimen was measured at 197 feet while being less than an inch in circumference.

This measurement has been questioned as their bodies are quite stretchy which makes measurements difficult.

Their proboscis fills with fluid and shoots out of the oral cavity similar to the finger on a rubber glove. This is used to capture prey.

Most modern ribbon worms are predators feeding fish, crustaceans, Gastropods and other worms.

Some Modern ribbon worms are poisonous containing tetrodotoxin which is the same poison as in some pufferfish.

Sections of the body can break off when stressed. Many ribbon worms have the ability to regenerate.

It is possible to chop up a ribbon worm into many pieces forming new smaller individuals.

It has been estimated that If cut up,  one 6 inch worm could form as many as 200,000 individuals.

Archisymplectes is rare in the Mazon deposit.

 

 

 

[Nimravis]

Nice examples Rob.

[bigred97]

Awesome post, @RCFossils! I love the scientific facts you lay out, I learn something every time. Thanks!

[Mark Kmiecik]

Thank you for posting this information. It's a pleasure to learn as you post.