Ottoia prolifica

Overview

Ottoia prolifica is a worm known for a ringed body and an anterior region that can turn inward. Hook structures are described at the rear. Its external form can be explored alongside traces of food preserved inside.^[1][3]

Key facts

Conical shell fragments of Haplophrentis are described in the digestive tracts of specimens such as ROM60747. This is a case of hard parts from a consumed animal remaining inside another organism’s body.^[3]

Time and place

This is a Cambrian organism. The Cambrian spanned approximately 540–490 million years ago. Museum accounts describe the bodies and digestive-tract traces of several specimens.^[1][2]

The time range describes source context, not the complete duration of this species.

Size, form and skeleton

The trunk bears successive rings, and the front region is described as capable of turning inward. Two groups of hooks lie at the rear. Front end, trunk, and rear end can be examined in sequence.^[1]

Habitat and reproduction

Where might evidence of a worm’s diet survive? Shell fragments in Ottoia’s digestive tract provide clues to feeding. Contents preserved internally convey information about lifestyle as well as external form.^[3]

Fossil discovery

The museum describes Ottoia’s ringed body, front region, posterior hooks, and shells within its digestive tract together. ROM60747 is a specimen that preserves dietary clues. The preservation of one organism leads to a story about another.^[1][3]

References

1. Royal Ontario Museum — Ottoia prolifica
2. International Commission on Stratigraphy (2024) — Geological time chart
3. ROM · Ottoia prolifica
4. Royal Ontario Museum — Haplophrentis carinatus

Research questions

Which organisms did the shells inside the body belong to? Conical fragments can be compared alongside Haplophrentis. The predator’s exterior and the prey’s hard structures connect as different kinds of evidence.^[3][4]

Observation

Move your gaze from the front region to the ringed trunk and posterior hooks. Keeping the conical shells in the digestive tract in mind helps distinguish external form from internal contents.^[1][3]