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doublejota — Mellizia

Published: 2021-01-08 14:16:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 2540; Favourites: 30; Downloads: 0
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Description A member of Adelphofora, a class of the phylum Gemellata. The four members that appear in the image are not distinct organisms. They share the same genetic information and cannot survive without each other, which is why they are considered as a single individual, even though they don't share any tissues. The first member (homologous to the drones of the alvarians) serves as a head that collects organic matter from the seabed and takes it to the second member (homologous to the queen of an alvearian), wich digests it and will share the nutrients with the other members, to whom it will inject a sort of nourishing nectar directly into their vascular systems (visible through its translucent skin) through the epidermis. The third member is related to the nutrient storage and in this specific species, the fourth member is vestigial and no longer fulfills any relevant function. All members of this organism stay close to each other, and know their position by communicating by radio waves. The species in the image measures 7 cm counting all its members and can be found crawling on muddy sea beds, feeding on the microfauna that live on the substrate.
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Comments: 8

wayoutdan [2021-12-20 16:16:33 +0000 UTC]

👍: 1 ⏩: 1

doublejota In reply to wayoutdan [2021-12-22 09:15:18 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

alligator83 [2021-01-08 20:04:35 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

doublejota In reply to alligator83 [2021-01-08 20:20:51 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

alligator83 In reply to doublejota [2021-01-08 20:41:13 +0000 UTC]

👍: 1 ⏩: 1

doublejota In reply to alligator83 [2021-01-08 21:12:18 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

alligator83 In reply to doublejota [2021-01-08 21:26:02 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Sumlax In reply to alligator83 [2021-01-09 05:50:54 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0