#or mystacocarida

[patheticmosasaur1]

in my perfect world 90% of butterflies and moths would be neotenic caterpillars. the remaining 10% would consist of my favourite moths and would be mildly obscure freaks, sort of like how snow scorpionflies are right now

and what would take the niche of all the butterflies that are gone now? flying non hexapod crustaceans

[bestanimal]

Round 2 - Arthropoda - Mystacocarida

(Sources - 1, 2)

The class Mystacocarida comprises one family: Derocheilocarididae, commonly called “Mustache Shrimp.”

Mystacocarids are tiny pigmentless crustaceans, less than 1 mm (0.04 in) long, that live in the spaces between sand grains on intertidal beaches. They have been found along the coasts of South and North America, southern Africa, and the western Mediterranean, though they likely exist elsewhere and simply haven’t been sampled for. They have a cylindrical body with ten segments: five thoracic and five abdominal. On their head they have two pairs of long antennae, a pair of limb-like mandibles and two pairs of maxillae. Fine hairs allow the animal to strain detritus from the water to feed on. They have five pairs of limbs. The first pair has been modified into maxillipeds, used for feeding. The other four pairs of limbs are small, unsegmented lobes used for swimming, with the last pair being modified in males. Their abdomen ends in a supra-anal plate, a telson, and a pair of large pincer-like furca. Their tiny larvae hatch with three head segments which are covered by a single carapace. They later moult into their adult form.

Propaganda under the cut:

I couldn’t find a gif or even a video to make a gif from, so uh… flying fairy toy. They kinda look like them, right? Tiny tiny little fairies

Every millimeter of this world contains life. There are tiny animals that live between the grains of sand where the ocean meets the shore, feeding on detritus the waves bring them. That’s their world. We don’t know a lot about them. They don’t even know humans exist.

[feralpodcastlistener]

no. 1

a wizard is going to turn you into a random animal! whether you like it or not! how nice of them! spin the wheel to find out which class your new species belongs to (and then probably do a google).

[biologiado3m3-blog]

Os artrópodes (Arthropoda, do grego arthros(ἄρθρον), articulado e podos (ποδός), pés) são um filo de animais invertebrados que possuem exoesqueleto rígido e vários pares de apêndices articulados, cujo número varia de acordo com a classe.

Arthropoda

 Artrópodes extintos e artrópodes atuais.Classificação científicaDomínio:Eukaryota

Reino:Animalia

Subreino:Eumetazoa

Superfilo:Protostomia

Filo:Arthropoda

Subfilos e ClassesSubfilo Trilobitomorpha

  Classe Trilobita - Trilobites, extinto

Subfilo Chelicerata

  Classe Arachnida - aranhas, escorpiões, etc.

  Classe Merostomata - Límulo

  Classe Pycnogonida - aranha-do-mar

Subfilo Myriapoda

  Classe Chilopoda - centopeias

  Classe Diplopoda - mil-pés

  Classe Pauropoda

  Classe Symphyla

Subfilo Hexapoda

  Classe Insecta - Insetos: moscas, borboletas, etc.

  Classe Entognatha

     Ordem Diplura

     Ordem Collembola - colêmbolos

     Ordem Protura

Subfilo Crustacea ou Crustaceomorpha

  Classe Remipedia

  Classe Cephalocarida

  Classe Branchiopoda

  Classe Ostracoda

  Classe Mystacocarida

  Classe Copepoda

  Classe Branchiura

  Classe Cirripedia - cracas

  Classe Tantulocarida

  Classe Malacostraca - lagostas, caranguejos, etc.

NOTA: Alguns sistemas de classificação agrupam Myriapoda e Hexapoda num subfilo denominado Uniramia.

Compõem o maior filo de animais existentes, representados por animais como os gafanhotos (insetos), as aranhas(aracnídeos), os caranguejos (crustáceos), as centopeias (quilópodes) e os piolhos-de-cobra (diplópodes). Têm cerca de um milhão de espécies descritas, e estima-se que os representantes deste filo equivalem a cerca de 84% de todas as espécies de animais conhecidas pelo homem.Possuem uma ampla gama de cores e formatos, e no que diz respeito ao tamanho, alguns vão desde as formas microscópicas, como no plâncton(com menos de 1/4 de milímetro), até crustáceos com mais de 3 metros de espessura.

Sua existência é datada nos registros fósseisdesde o período Cambriano (cerca de 542 a 488 milhões de anos atrás), onde criaturas como as Trilobitas eram encontradas em abundância nos oceanos.Algumas teorias sobre a origem deste filo sustentam que os ancestrais dos artrópodes podem ter sido os anelídeos (vermes de corpo segmentado em anéis) ou de algum outro ancestral em comum.

Os artrópodes habitam praticamente todos os tipos de ambientes no planeta, sejam eles aquáticos ou terrestres. Mesmo nos lugares mais inóspitos e sob temperaturas baixíssimas, como nas geleiras da Antártida, é possível encontrar a presença dos artrópodes. Alguns dentre a classe dos insetos, representam os únicos invertebradosque possuem a capacidade de voar. Também se encontram alguns que são parasitas e outros que apresentam características simbióticas. Muitos destes animais estão diretamente ligados ao homem, seja por serem utilizados como alimento, como também por causarem prejuízos na saúde e na agricultura.

[bestanimal]

Round 2 Final Stats:

Previously I said any group to earn over 900 points will move on to Round 3, however, I’m going to make it the Top 10 just to make it even. Plus, what’s an extra two species?

For the final stats, I’ve made a little graphic with some doodles to remind y’all what each class is. (Couldn’t use emojis for everyone because, alas, there are not enough unique ones to represent all these animal groups!) The full list is typed out under the read more though, as well as the extra stats for this round!

The top classes (or phylogenetic equivalents) have been ranked thusly, listed here from highest ranking to lowest:

🦈 Chondrichthyes ~ 1,509

🐀 Mammalia ~ 1,437

🐍 Reptilia ~ 1,183

🐙 Cephalopoda ~ 1,175

🐸 Lissamphibia ~ 1,002

🐠 Actinopterygii ~ 983

🦀 Malacostraca ~ 954

🕷 Arachnida ~ 913

🐞 Insecta ~ 908

Actinistia ~ 853

🐌 Gastropoda ~ 796

🫁 Dipnoi ~ 598

🦪 Bivalvia ~ 507

Myxini ~ 492

Chilopoda ~ 479

Branchiopoda ~ 443

Polyplacophora ~ 427

Petromyzontida ~ 412

Pycnogonida ~ 405

Copepoda ~ 308

Ascidiacea ~ 394

Diplopoda ~ 393

Ostracoda ~ 278

Collembola ~ 272

Thecostraca ~ 253

Pauropoda ~ 246

Appendicularia ~ 229

Leptocardii ~ 222

Remipedia ~ 194

Symphyla ~ 166

Solenogastres ~ 164

Tergomya ~ 158

Scaphopoda ~ 142

Tantulocarida ~ 139

Cephalocarida ~ 134

Mystacocarida ~ 115

Caudofoveata ~ 110

Diplura ~ 94

Protura ~ 83

Ichthyostraca ~ 83

Our Top 10 Classes are Chondrichthyes, Mammalia, Reptilia, Cephalopoda, Lissamphibia, Actinopterygii, Malacostraca, Arachnida, Insecta, and Actinistia!

This means Chondrichthyes, Mammalia, Reptilia, Cephalopoda, Lissamphibia, Actinopterygii, Malacostraca, Arachnida, Insecta, and Actinistia will be moving on to Round 3, and broken up by Order (or some other phylogenetic equivalent).

Extra Stats:

Arthropod Class Pycnogonida (“sea spiders”)

~ was the first group of Round 2

~ was the first arthropod group of Round 2

~ had the highest amount of dislikes at 20

~ had the highest amount of hates at 5

Arthropod Class Symphyla (“garden centipedes”)

~ had the highest percentage of likes at 45%

Arthropod Class Ichthyostraca (“fish lice” and “tongue worms”)

~ had the highest percentage of dislikes at 9.1%

~ had the highest percentage of hates at 2.6%

Arthropod Class Mystacocarida (“mustache shrimp”)

~ had the lowest amount of loves at 13

~ had the lowest percentage of loves at 7.9%

~ had 0 hates

~ had the least reblogs at 8

~ had the least notes at 21

Arthropod Class Ostracoda (“seed shrimp”)

~ had 0 hates

~ received exactly 200 votes

Arthropod Class Copepoda (copepods)

~ had 0 hates

Arthropod Class Malacostraca (“crabs”, “lobsters”, “shrimp”, etc)

~ had the third most reblogs at 55

~ had the highest percentage of loves at 52.8%

~ had 0 dislikes and 0 hates

~ was the highest ranked Arthropod class

Arthropod Class Tantulocarida (tantulocarids)

~ had the highest amount of neutral votes at 91, along with Caudofoveata

Arthropod Class Cephalocarida (“horseshoe shrimp”)

~ had 0 hates

Arthropod Class Remipedia (remipedes)

~ had 0 hates

Arthropod Class Collembola (“springtails”)

~ had 0 hates

Arthropod Class/Order Protura (“coneheads”)

~ had the least votes at 125

~ had the lowest amount of favorites at 1

~ had the lowest percentage of favorites at 0.8%

~ had 0 hates

Arthropod Class Insecta (insects)

~ had 0 dislikes

Chordate Class Leptocardii (“lancelets”)

~ was the first Chordate group of Round 2

~ had 0 hates

Chordate Class Ascidiacea/Thaliacea (“sea squirts”, “salps”, “pyrosomes”, etc.)

~ had 0 hates

Chordate Class Appendicularia (“larvaceans”)

~ had 0 hates

Chordate Class Chondrichthyes (“cartilaginous fish”)

~ had the most votes at 415

~ had the highest amount of loves at 181

~ had 0 dislikes and 0 hates

~ had the most reblogs at 105

~ had the most notes at 235

~ was the highest ranked group of chordates

Chordate Class Actinistia (“coelacanths”)

~ had 0 dislikes and 0 hates

~ was the first single genus (Latimeria) to be ranked

Chordate Class Dipnoi (“lungfish”)

~ had the highest amount of likes at 104

~ had 0 dislikes and 0 hates

~ contained the first of my personal favorites (Australian Lungfish) to be eliminated 🥲

Chordate Class Lissamphibia (amphibians)

~ had the lowest amount of neutral votes at 1, along with Reptilia and Gastropoda

~ had the lowest percentage of neutral votes at 0.4%, along with Reptilia and Gastropoda

~ had 0 dislikes and 0 hates

Chordate Class Reptilia (reptiles)

~ had the lowest amount of neutral votes at 1, along with Lissamphibia and Gastropoda

~ had the lowest percentage of neutral votes at 0.4%, along with Lissamphibia and Gastropoda

~ had 0 dislikes and 0 hates

Chordate Class Mammalia (mammals)

~ had the highest amount of favorites at 258

~ had the highest percentage of favorites at 80.6%

~ had the lowest amount of likes at 4

~ had the lowest percentage of likes at 1.2%

Molluscan Class Polyplacophora (“chitons”)

~ was the first Mollusc group of Round 2

~ had 0 hates

Molluscan Class Solenogastres (solenogasters)

~ had 0 hates

Molluscan Class Caudofoveata (caudofoveatans)

~ had the highest amount of neutral votes at 91, along with Tantulocarida

~ had the highest percentage of neutral votes at 58%

Molluscan Subclass Tergomya (tergomyans)

~ had 0 hates

Molluscan Class Cephalopoda (cephalopods)

~ had the second most reblogs at 66

~ had 0 dislikes and 0 hates

~ was the only molluscan class to make it into the Top Ten

Molluscan Class Scaphopoda (“tusk shells”)

~ had 0 hates

Molluscan Class Gastropoda (“snails” and kin)

~ had 0 dislikes and 0 hates

~ had the lowest amount of neutral votes at 1, along with Lissamphibia and Reptilia

~ had the lowest percentage of neutral votes at 0.4%, along with Lissamphibia and Reptilia

Molluscan Class Bivalvia (bivalves)

~ had 0 dislikes

[bacony-cakes]

don't fucking challenge me i know every beast

NON-BEASTLY BEASTS:

Non-ParaHoxozoa:

Calcarea (Calcareous Sponges)

Hexacinellida (Glass Sponges)

Demospongiae (Demosponges)

Tentaculata (Tentacled Ctenophores)

Beroida (Non-Tentacled Ctenophores)

ParaHoxozoa, Non-Nephrozoa:

Placozoa

Anthozoa (Corals, Sea Pens, and Tube-Dwelling Anenomes)

Medusozoa (Jellyfish and Hydrozoans)

Myxozoa

Xenacoelomorpha

MINIBEASTS:

Spiralia, Non-Lophotrochozoa:

Gnathifera (Rotifers and Jaw Worms)

Mesozoa

Rouphozoa (Flatworms and Gastrotrichs)

Lophotrochozoa, Non-Mollusca:

Cycliophora

Annelida (Segmented Worms)

Nemertea (Ribbon Worms)

Bryozoa

Entoprocta

Phorodina (Horseshoe Worms)

Brachiopoda

Mollusca:

Solenogastres

Caudofoveata

Polyplacophora (Chitons)

Bivalvia (Clams, Scallops, Mussels, Oysters, Cockles, and others)

Monoplacophora

Scaphopoda (Tusk Shells)

Gastropoda (Snails, Slugs, Sea Snails, Sea Slugs, and others)

Cephalopoda (Nautiloids, Cuttlefish, Squid, and Octopi)

Ecdysozoa, Non-Arthropoda:

Loricifera

Priapulida (Penis Worms [sic])

Kinorhyncha (Mud Dragons)

Nematoda (Roundworms)

Nematomorpha (Horsehair Worms)

Tardigrada (Tardigrades)

Onchyophora (Velvet Worms)

Arthropoda, Non-Mandibulata:

Pycnogonida (Sea Spiders)

Xiphosura (Horseshoe Crabs)

Acariformes (Cheese Mites, Scabies Mites, Eyelash Mites, House Mites, and others)

Opiliones (Harvestmen)

Ricinulei (Hooded Tickspiders)

Solifugae (Camel Spiders)

Parisitiformes (Ticks, Varroa Mites, and others)

Pseudoscorpiones (Pseudoscorpions)

Scorpiones (Scorpions)

Araneae (Spiders)

Amblypigi (Whip Spiders)

Urgopygi (Whip Scorpions)

Mandibulata, Non-Insecta:

Chilopoda (Centipedes)

Symphyla (Pseudocentipedes)

Pauropoda

Diplopoda (Millipedes)

Ostracoda (Seed Shrimp)

Mystacocarida

Branchiura (Fish Lice)

Pentastomida (Tongue Worms)

Copepoda (Copepods)

Tantulocarida

Thecostraca (Barnacles and others)

Malacostraca (Crabs, Lobsters, Shrimp, Isopods, Amphipods, and others)

Cephalocarida (Horseshoe Shrimp)

Branchiopoda (Fairy Shrimp, Tadpole Shrimp, Water Fleas, and others)

Remipedia

Collembola (Springtails)

Protura

Diplura (Two-Pronged Bristletails)

Insecta, Non-Neoptera:

Archaeognatha (Jumping Bristletails)

Zygentoma (Silverfish, Firebrats, and others)

Odonatoptera (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)

Neoptera, Non-Holometabola:

Zoraptera (Angel Insects)

Dermaptera (Earwigs)

Plecoptera (Stoneflies)

Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, and others)

Mantodea (Mantises)

Blattodea (Cockroaches and Termites)

Notoptera (Ice Crawlers and Rock Crawlers)

Phasmatodea (Stick Insects and Leaf Insects)

Embioptera (Webspinners)

Psocodea (Lice)

Hemiptera (Shield Bugs, Aphids, Scale Insects, Cicadas, Planthoppers, Assassin Bugs, Water Boatmen, Pond Skaters, and others)

Thysanoptera (Thrips)

Holometabola

Hymenoptera (Sawflies, Bees, Wasps, and Ants)

Strepsiptera

Coleoptera (Beetles)

Raphidioptera (Snakeflies)

Neuroptera (Lacewings, Antlions, and others)

Megaloptera (Dobsonflies and others)

Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Trichoptera (Caddisflies)

Diptera (Flies, Mosquitoes, Gnats, Midges, Hoverflies, and others)

Mecopteroidea (Scorpionflies, Hangingflies, and Fleas)

SLIGHTLY MORE BEASTLY BEASTS:

Ambulacraria:

Echinodermata (Starfish, Sea Urchins, Brittle Stars, Feather Stars, and others)

Hemichordata (Acorn Worms and others)

Chordata (Non-Vertebrata):

Leptocardii (Lancelets)

Tunicata (Sea Squirts, Salps, Pyrosomes, and others)

Vertebrata (Non-Eutelostomi):

Myxini (Hagfish)

Hyperoartia (Lampreys)

Elasmobranchii (Sharks, Rays, and Skates)

Holocephali (Chimaeras)

Actinopterygii (Non-Acanthomorpha):

Cladistia (Bichirs and Reedfish)

Acnipenseriformes (Paddlefish and Sturgeons)

Halecomorphi (Bowfins)

Ginglymodi (Gars)

Elopocephalai (Eels, Ladyfish, Halosaurs, and others)

Osteoglossocephala (Arapaima, Goldeye, and others)

Clupei (Herrings and Anchovies)

Apelocephali (Slickheads and others)

Anotophysa (Milkfish, Beaked Salmon, and others)

Cypriniformes (Carp, Goldfish, Loaches, Minnows, and others)

Characiformes (Characins, Pacu, Pirahnas, Tetras, and others)

Gymnotiformes (Knifefish and Electric Eels)

Siluriformes (Catfish)

Lepidogalaxii (Salamanderfish)

Protacanthopterygii (Salmon, Pike, Trout, Barreleye, and others)

Stomiati (Smelts, Marine Hatchetfish, and others)

Ateleopodia (Jellynose Fish)

Aulopa (Bombay Duck and Lancetfish)

Myctophata (Lanternfish)

Acanthomorpha:

Lampridacea (Oarfish, Opah and others)

Paracanthomorphacea (Cods, Dories, Cavefish, and others)

Polymixiacea (Beardfish)

Berycimorphaceae (Fangtooths, Pineconefishes, and others)

Holocentrimorphaceae (Soldierfish)

Ophidiiformes (Pearlfish)

Batrachoidimophara (Toadfish)

Gobiomorpharia (Seahorses, Pipefish, Tunas, Flying Gurnards, and others)

Anabantaria (Gouramis, Swamp Eels, and others)

Carangaria (Swordfish, Flatfish, Remoras, and others)

Ovalentaria (Blennies, Cichlids, Flying Fish, Mullets, and others)

Eupercaria (Anglerfish, Pufferfish, Wrasses, Sunfish, Sticklebacks, Lumpsuckers, Lionfish, Angelfish, Perches, Archerfish, Triggerfish, Bass, and others)

Sarcopterygii:

Actinistia (Coelocanths)

Dipnoi (Lungfish)

BEASTS PROPER:

Lissamphibia

Salientia (Frogs and Toads)

Caudata (Salamanders and Newts)

Gymnophiona (Caecilians)

Reptilia (Non-Aves)

Rhynchocephalia (Tuatara)

Dibamidae (Blind Skinks)

Gekkota (Geckos and Flap-Footed Lizards)

Scinciformata (Skinks and others)

Laterata (Tegus and Worm Lizards)

Anguimorpha (Slow Worms, Monitors, Gila Monster, and others)

Iguania (Anoles, Iguanas, Chameleons, and others)

Serpentes (Snakes)

Testudines (Turtles and Tortoises)

Crocodilia (Crocodiles, Gharials, Alligators, and Caiman)

Aves (Non-Passeriformes):

Palaeognathae (Ostriches, Kiwis, and others)

Galloanserae (Chickens, Ducks, and others)

Mirandornithes (Flamingos and Grebes)

Columbimorphae (Doves and others)

Otidimorphae (Cuckoos, Turacos, and Bustards)

Gruimorphae (Gulls, Cranes, Auks, and others)

Ophistocomidae (Hoatzins)

Strisores (Hummingbirds, Nightjars, Potoos, and others)

Phaethoquornithes (Boobies, Loons, Ibises, Penguins, Albatrosses, Tropicbirds, and others)

Acciptirimorphae (Vultures, Hawks, Eagles, and others)

Strigiformes (Owls)

Coraciimorphae (Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Quetzals, and others)

Cariamiformes (Seriemas)

Falconiformes (Falcons)

Psittaciformes (Parrots)

Passeriformes:

Acanthisitti (New Zealand Wrens)

Tyranni (Overnbirds, Spadebills, Gnateaters, and others)

Menurida (Lyrebirds and others)

Climacterida (Bowerbirds and others)

Meliphagida (Honeyeaters, Bristlebirds, and others)

Orthonychida (Logrunners and others)

Corvides (Crows, Jays, Boatbills, Shriketits, Sittellas, Birds-Of-Paradise and others)

Passerides (Satinbirds, Sparrows, Larks, Tits, Oxpeckers, Thrushes, Wrens, Finches, Tanagers, Nuthatchers, and others)

Mammalia (Non-Laurasiatheria):

Monotremata (Platypus and Echidnas)

Marsupialia (Kangaroos, Opossums, Wombats, and others)

Xenarthra (Anteaters, Sloths, and others)

Athrotheria (Elephants, Manatees, Aardvarks, and others)

Lagomorpha (Rabbits, Hares and others)

Rodentia (Mice, Rats, Cavies, Beavers, Squirrels, and others)

Scandentia (Treeshrews)

Dermoptera (Colugos)

Primates (Lemurs, Marmosets, Baboons, Gibbons, Chimpanzees, and others)

Lauasiatheria (Non-Carnivora):

Eulipotyphla (Shrews, Moles, Hedgehogs, and others)

Chiroptera (Bats)

Artiodactyla (Girrafes, Deer, Whales, Pigs, Camels, and others)

Perissodactyla (Horses, Tapir, and Rhinoceros)

Pholidota (Pangolins)

Carnivora:

Viverroidea (Hyenas, Mongooses, Civets, and others)

Feloidea (Lions, Tigers, Caracals, Wildcats, Leopards, and others)

Nandiniidae (African Palm Civet)

Caninae (Wolves, Foxes, and others)

Ursidae (Bears)

Musteloidea (Skunks, Weasels, Otters, Raccoons, and others)

Pinnipedia (Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses)

Interview questions for gym leaders

[bestanimal]

Final Results:

4 favorites (20 points)

29 loves (87 points)

47 likes (47 points)

91 neutrals

6 dislikes (-6 points)

3 hates (-9 points)

Tantulocarida recieves

139 points

putting it above Mystacocarida, below Symphyla

The groups with the highest points will win this round.

Remember to reblog your favs, as this tournament relies on number of votes, not percentages!

Did you miss any polls? Check the tag #/Animal Polls before it’s too late!

Round 2 - Arthropoda - Tantulocarida

(Sources - 1, 2, 3)

Tantulocarida is a class of tiny crustaceans which live as ectoparasites of copepods, isopods, tanaids, amphipods, and ostracods. They contain about 33 species within 5 families.

Tantulocarida are not only the smallest crustaceans, but also the smallest arthropods: less than 0.3 millimetres in length, the smallest (Tantulacus dieteri) being less than 85 micrometres long. They have an unsegmented, sac-like thorax and a reduced abdomen. They have no eyes.

The larvae consist of a head with an “oral disc” and no appendages, a 6-segmented thorax with 6 pairs of legs, and a limbless abdomen with 1-6 segments and a telson. Their life cycle is unique in that they transform directly from a non-feeding, free-swimming larvae into an adult parasite without any moults in between. Once the larvae finds a host, it will pierce its host’s cuticle with a stylet, upon which a rootlet system grows through the hole and into the host’s tissue. The larvae will degenerate, losing all muscle mass and becoming a permanent part of the host. The adult form develops inside the larva, and can become either a free-living, non-feeding, sexually-producing male or female, or a sac-like parthenogenetic female which will release fully developed tantulus larvae (image 2). The sexually-producing females may release nauplius larvae instead. Not much else is known about these bizarre crustaceans!

[bestanimal]

Final Results:

5 favorites (25 points)

20 loves (60 points)

54 likes (54 points)

83 neutrals

5 dislikes (-5 points)

0 hates

Cephalocarida recieves

134 points

putting it above Mystacocarida, below Tantulocarida

The groups with the highest points will win this round.

Remember to reblog your favs, as this tournament relies on number of votes, not percentages!

Did you miss any polls? Check the tag #/Animal Polls before it’s too late!

Round 2 - Arthropoda - Cephalocarida

(Sources - 1, 2, 3)

Cephalocarida is a class of crustaceans commonly referred to as “Horseshoe Shrimp.” There is only one known family, Hutchinsoniellidae, with 12 living species.

Both the larvae and adults are found on the sea floor, feeding on marine detritus. They are small, with an elongated, pigmentless body 2 to 4 mm in length. They have a large head, the hind edge covering the first thoracic segment. They have two pairs of antennae, with the second pair located behind the mouth. The mouth is covered by a large upper lip and flanked by a pair of mandibles. The first pair of maxillae are very small, but the second pair is similar to a pair of legs, a possible holdover from primitive arthropod ancestors. Neither the adults nor the nauplius larvae have eyes. The thorax consists of 9 limb-bearing segments, followed by 10 limbless abdominal segments and a telson. Cephalocaridans are hermaphroditic, and carry their eggs with them. Mating has yet to be observed.

Fossils of cephalocaridans have been dated to the Late Cambrian.

[bestanimal]

Final Results:

6 favorites (30 points)

15 loves (45 points)

41 likes (41 points)

91 neutrals

3 dislikes (-3 points)

1 hate (-3 points)

Caudofoveata recieves

110 points

putting it above Diplura, below Mystacocarida

The groups with the highest points will win this round.

Remember to reblog your favs, as this tournament relies on number of votes, not percentages!

Did you miss any polls? Check the tag #/Animal Polls before it’s too late!

Round 2 - Mollusca - Caudofoveata

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

Caudofoveata is a small class of shell-less, worm-like molluscs somewhat similar to solenogasters.

Caudofoveatans make up for their lack of shell with a coat of calcareous spines, called sclerites, embedded within their mantle. These sclerites can stick up to form a palisade or can lie flat against the animal. Their head is covered by a hard shield studded with sense cells to help the animal orient itself. Unlike solenogasters, they do not have a foot and live mostly sedentary lifestyles burrowed within soft sediment. Most are filter-feeders, lying vertically on the ocean floor with just the mouthparts exposed and taking in passing organic detritus. Some are more selective detritivores or predators of single-celled organisms. Unlike solenogasters, caudofoveatans have seperate sexes and exhibit external fertilisation, releasing sperm into the water column. The female will brood her fertilized eggs, which will hatch into planktonic trochophoric larvae. They are exclusively marine, living at a depth of more than 20 m, where they can appear in a density of up to 4 to 5 individuals per square metre, as far down as the deep sea. 

Caudofoveatans and the similar solenogasters are often considered the most primitive molluscs. Unlike other shell-less molluscs which lost their shells secondarily, caudofoveatans have yet to evolve shells. Along with Polyplacophora and Solenogastres, Caudofoveatans likely originated at least 540 million years ago, at the Ediacaran–Cambrian border.

Propaganda under the cut:

Caudofoveatans are also important to understanding the early evolution of molluscs, and how this phylum came to be.

Chitons’ shell plates are believed to have evolved from calcareous scales similar to those of caudofoveatans’ sclerites.

Most caudofoveatans are very small, ranging 0.02–10 cm in size, but one species, Chaetoderma felderi, can reach 36.5 cm!

Caudofoveatans are the least known, and possibly the least researched class of molluscs. In fact, they weren’t even understood as molluscs until the end of the 19th century. They were once regarded as sea cucumbers, along with solenogasters.

[bestanimal]

Final Results:

3 favorites (15 points)

16 loves (48 points)

43 likes (43 points)

60 neutrals

6 dislikes (-6 points)

2 hates (-6 points)

Diplura recieves

94 points

putting it above Protura and Ichthyostraca, below Mystacocarida

The groups with the highest points will win this round.

Remember to reblog your favs, as this tournament relies on number of votes, not percentages!

Did you miss any polls? Check the tag #/Animal Polls before it’s too late!

Round 2 - Arthropoda - Diplura

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

The Diplura (commonly called “Two-pronged Bristletails”) were classically placed together with collembolans and proturans in the class “Entognatha.” However, most recent research points to Entognatha being paraphyletic (ie, grouped together based on morphological similarities and not so much how closely related they actually are.) It would appear that collembolans, proturans, diplurans, and insects all evolved the hexapodous body structure independently.

With that out of the way, there are around 800 species of diplurans, grouped into 10 families. They can be 2–50 millimetres (0.08 – 2 in) long. They lack eyes, wings, and pigment. Unlike proturans, they have long antennae with bead-like segments. Their most distinguishing feature is the pair of cerci projecting backwards from their last abdominal segment. These cerci may be long and thin or short and pincer-like. Some diplurans have the ability to shed their cerci to escape from predators. They have biting mouthparts concealed within their head, consisting of mandibles with several apical teeth. Diplurans with short cerci are carnivorous predators, using their pincer-like cerci to capture springtails, isopods, small myriapods, insect larvae, and other diplurans. Those with long cerci are omnivores, eating soil fungi, mites, springtails, other small soil invertebrates, and/or detritus.

Like collembolans and centipedes, male diplurans lay spermatophores for females to find. These sperm packets are held off the ground by short stalks. After collecting spermatophores, the female will lay eggs on stalks within a crevice or cavity in the ground. Most diplurans will abandon their eggs after laying them, but some will remain to protect their eggs and newborns. Upon hatching, nymphs looks like smaller, less hairy adults.

Diplurans do not have a very good fossil record. One apparent dipluran, Testajapyx, dates to the Carboniferous. Testajapyx had compound eyes and mouthparts resembling those of true insects.

(source)

Propaganda under the cut:

As soil-dwelling organisms, diplurans play a role in indicating soil quality and as a measure of the impact of human activities such as farming.

Diplurans can regenerate lost legs, antennae, and cerci over the course of several moults.

[veeejane]

Mystacocarida!

a wizard is going to turn you into a random animal! whether you like it or not! how nice of them! spin the wheel to find out which class your new species belongs to (and then probably do a google).

[lemonsquifficult]

Mystacocarida

Tiny shrimp alright

a wizard is going to turn you into a random animal! whether you like it or not! how nice of them! spin the wheel to find out which class your new species belongs to (and then probably do a google).