Ottoia

Ottoia is from Otto Pass (2,106 m), a few kilometres north-west of the Burgess Shale. The pass was named after Otto Klotz, an astronomer working for the Department of the Interior along the Canadian Pacific Railroad (read about Otto Klotz in the section “First Discoveries”). And the scientific name is prolifica – from the Latin proles, “offspring,” and ferax, “rich, fruitful,” in reference to the great number of specimens discovered

Ottoia is a primordial worm. From the head and eyeless animal with thorns on the head to the proboscis, this mouth section was less spiky, with rough skin to the end of the anus and fewer spikes at the tip. They had a retractable proboscis at the front of their body, which housed a tongue coated with sharp fangs. Their bodies were unknown; either the dispute over Ottoia was transparent or completely opaque. This animal's blood color is unknown; however, it could be cyan or unknown, similar to some worms.

Ottoia's thorny mouthparts were used to seize small prey and even members of its own species. Ottoia can dig in U-shaped holes to poke enemies; the enemy didn't notice it underneath.

Ottoia was a burrower that hunted prey with its eversible proboscis. It also appears to have scavenged on dead organisms such as the arthropod Sidneyia.

These extinct worms usually pose no threat to humans, but if their mouthparts pierce the skin, they may cause pain or irritation. Their thorax is covered in spiky thorns that serve as a protective mechanism. Although they are not poisonous, the mouthparts can pierce the skin and cause fish to experience localized discomfort, swelling, and redness while humans experience less harm.

The only distinct Ottoia macrofossils are found in the Burgess Shale of British Columbia, which was deposited 508 million years ago from Australia, Canada, China, Nevada, and possibly Spain as well. However, priapulid-like worms from different Cambrian deposits are frequently falsely referred to as Ottoia.

• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: 

  • Earth: 0

  • Reinachos: ???

• Locomotion: Amphibious

• Habitat: Warm Littoral; Cold Littoral; Warm Intertidal; Cold Intertidal; Hadal Zone.

• Earth: 

  • Extinct: Canada; China; Morocco; Spain; United States (Nevada)

• Reinachos: 

  • Extant & Introduced: ugh

No

Coming soon.

• See also: ugh

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• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoia

• https://primeval.fandom.com/wiki/Precambrian_Worm

• https://burgess-shale.rom.on.ca/fossils/ottoia-prolifica/

• https://prehistoricearth.fandom.com/wiki/Ottoia

• https://dinopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Ottoia

• https://www.mindat.org/taxon-4578804.html

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Ottoia-prolifica-897216461