less than 1 minute read

Anoplans and Enoplans: Nemertea

Anoplans, Enoplans, And People

Some of the toxins made by anoplans and enoplans have been studied for use in drugs that help the memory of people with Alzheimer's disease.

WORMS IN A BUCKET

An easy way to collect anoplans and enoplans is to place seaweed and smaller algae in a bucket of seawater. In a few hours to a couple of days any worms in the seaweed will crawl to the sides of the bucket and be easy to see.

WRESTLING FOR DINNER

When prey, such as a crab, comes along, an enoplan hiding in the sand sticks out its long snout, rapidly wraps it around the crab, and injects immobilizing toxins and digestive enzymes into the prey. When the crab stops struggling, the worm pulls in its snout, comes out of its hole, and enters the prey, whose tissues are drained from the shell in about an hour.

Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceJellyfish, Sponges, and Other Simple AnimalsAnoplans and Enoplans: Nemertea - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Anoplans, Enoplans, And People, No Common Name (oerstedia Dorsalis): Species Account - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CONSERVATION STATUS