Lickworm

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Lickworm
(Emeophilovermis lickmuthus)
Main image of Lickworm
Species is extant.
Information
CreatorBioCat Other
Week/Generation21/138
HabitatArtir Polar Beach, Ramul Temperate Beach, Clarke Temperate Beach, East Wind Polar Beach
Size2 cm Long
Primary MobilityUnknown
SupportExoskeleton (Chitin)
DietTrophallaxic (Hornsniffer Pre-Chewed Food)
RespirationSemi-Active (Unidirectional Tracheae)
ThermoregulationHeterotherm (Basking, Muscle-Generated Heat)
ReproductionHermaphrodite (Eggs)
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Subkingdom
Phylum
Class
Subclass
Order
Suborder
Family
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Binucleozoa
Symbiovermes (info)
Thoracocephalia
Optidorsalia
Polyptera (info)
Cataleipoptera
Gradoptera
Plumogryllidae
Emeophilovermis
Emeophilovermis lickmuthus
Ancestor:Descendants:

The lickworm split from its ancestor and moved to a very unique niche, the mouths of the hornsniffers. They can be found wherever the hornsniffer are and spend almost all of their lives on their backs and inside their mouths. They feed on food stuck on the hairs and mandibles in their hosts' mouths and therefore are also beneficial to them. They have evolved two long and powerful tongue-like hemipenes they use to grab the food particles and put them into their hidden belly mouth. They can still secrete a sticky substance from their feet that helps them grab on their hosts when in danger. They can also still "click" jump when in dire need, usually when they accidentally almost get eaten. Up to about 5 lickworms can live on a hornsniffer but this may cause competition and violence in the form of hemipenes whipping and bashing. They meet to mate usually when two of their hosts meet to mate as well and use this opportunity to move from host to host. Also desperate lickworms who are kicked from the host by others can sometimes leaves the host when it lays its eggs and wait until a new hornsniffer will hatch and move on it. In the winter it hibernates along with its hosts.