The Classification of Proboscis Worms

Proboscis worms belong to the phylum Nemertea. Scientists know of approximately 900 species within this phylum. Proboscis worms are also called ribbon worms because of the long length of many of the species. Although some nemertines live in freshwater, most find habitation in marine environments. Some ribbon worms live on land, as well.

  1. Eukaryota

    • Eukaryotes are multi-cellular living organisms, like plants and animals. The organisms that make up Eukaryota range from microscopic parasites and dinoflagellates. Eukaryotes distinguish themselves from the other two kingdoms, Archaea and Eubacteria, through endocytosis and phagocytosis, which is the capability to consume and internally process other cells and particles. Complex cell arrangements, like "the cytoskeletal system and a system of membrane-delimited compartments," also set eukaryotes apart from other forms of life, according to the Encyclopedia of Life.

    Animalia

    • Kingdom Animalia contains all animals. This classification group is also known as Metazoa. Animals are different than the protists and prokaryotes because they are heterotrophs and multicellular organisms. Heterotrophs rely on other organisms for nourishment, mostly by eating food and digesting it internally. Members of Animalia are typically covered in a sort of tissue comprised of cells, instead of the hard cell walls that cover plants. Approximately nine or ten millions species exist within Kingdom Animalia.

    Bilateria

    • Bilateria is made up of tripoblasts, which are "bilaterally symmetrical animals with three germ layers," according to the Tree of Life website. Examples of tripoblasts are the pisaster ochaeceus starfish, argiope spider, planarian flatworm and flamingo tongue snail. Bilateria is also known as Triploblastica.

    Nemertea

    • Nemertea is part of the Protostomia group of segmented worms. This phylum is made up of ribbon worms, or proboscis worms. Within the Nemertea phylum, there are two groups of Enoplas, the Bdellonemertea and the Hoplonemertea. These worms are called proboscis worms due to the large and clearly defined proboscis which sometimes comes in the form of stylets or has the ability to secrete "sticky fluid," according to the University of California Museum of Paleontology.