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Bootlace worm, Lineus longissimus
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Bootlace worm, Lineus longissimus
Bootlace worm, Lineus longissimus. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by James Sowerby from The British Miscellany, or Coloured figures of new, rare, or little known animal subjects, London, 1804
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Media ID 23203910
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Bootlace Figures Herpetology Miscellany Rare Sowerby Subjects Worm Zoological
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This handcoloured copperplate engraving by James Sowerby, titled "Bootlace worm, Lineus longissimus," is a fascinating and intriguing illustration from The British Miscellany, published in London in 1804. The Bootlace worm, also known as Lineus longissimus, is a unique and elongated marine invertebrate belonging to the class Annelida and the phylum Polychaeta. The Bootlace worm derives its name from its remarkable length, which can reach up to 30 feet (9 meters) or more, making it one of the longest known marine worms. The worm's body is cylindrical and unsegmented, with a uniform diameter and a uniformly black coloration. Its appearance is further accentuated by the delicate, hand-painted colors in this engraving, which add depth and detail to the image. The Bootlace worm is a deep-sea dweller, inhabiting the abyssal plains and trenches at depths of up to 20,000 feet (6,000 meters). Its long body is thought to provide an advantage in this environment, allowing it to cover greater distances in search of food and mates. The worm is a predator, feeding on a variety of marine organisms, including other worms, mollusks, and crustaceans. This beautiful and intricately detailed engraving is a testament to the skill and artistry of James Sowerby, a renowned English natural history illustrator. Sowerby's work was widely admired for its accuracy and beauty, and his illustrations were instrumental in advancing the fields of zoology and natural history during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The Bootlace worm, Lineus longissimus, remains an enduring symbol of the wonders of the deep sea and the importance of scientific exploration and documentation.
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