Ottoia

Ottoia is an extinct genus of priapulid worms known from Cambrian fossils, especially the Burgess Shale of British Columbia. Its fossils preserve a retractable proboscis and gut contents, including prey remains.

Priapulida: Priapulids are marine, unsegmented worms with a retractable, often spine-covered proboscis. Ottoia is an extinct member of this living animal phylum.
Scalidophora: Scalidophora is a group of ecdysozoan animals characterized by a retractable, scalid-bearing introvert. Ottoia's proboscis bears scalids, placing it among scalidophoran worms.
Ottoia prolifica: Ottoia prolifica is the best-known species of Ottoia, described from Cambrian fossils including those of the Burgess Shale. Most detailed accounts of Ottoia's anatomy and ecology concern this species.
Charles Doolittle Walcott: Charles Doolittle Walcott was an American geologist and paleontologist who collected and studied the Burgess Shale fossils. Walcott described Ottoia from Burgess Shale material.
Burgess Shale: The Burgess Shale is a Middle Cambrian fossil deposit in British Columbia, Canada. Its fossils provide the best-known record of Ottoia.
Scalids: Scalids are small, hardened spines or hooks on the introvert of scalidophoran animals. Ottoia's proboscis scalids helped it grip or manipulate food.
Burgess Shale fauna: The Burgess Shale fauna is the diverse assemblage of Cambrian organisms preserved in the Burgess Shale. Ottoia was one of the abundant animals in this fossil community.
Burgess Shale fossils: Burgess Shale fossils are exceptionally preserved Middle Cambrian remains discovered in British Columbia. These fossils established the record through which Ottoia became known.
Cambrian: The Cambrian is a geological period spanning roughly 539 to 485 million years ago. Ottoia lived during this period, when its fossils entered the Burgess Shale.
Palaeoscolecida: Palaeoscolecids are extinct worm-like animals known from Cambrian fossils, often with armored body coverings. Their fossils help compare Ottoia's body form with other Cambrian worms.

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