Ottoia
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Extinct (fossil)
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Ottoia is among the largest and most abundant worms found in the fossils of the Cambrian Burgess Shale formation of British Columbia. It is an early priapulid worm that averaged about 80mm in length. Typical of extant priapulids are the infaunal living habit and the spiny evertable proboscis.
Using the principle of actualism, the spines on Ottoia's proboscis have been interpreted as teeth used to capture prey. Its mode of life is uncertain, but it is thought to have been an active burrower, moving through the sediment after prey, and is believed to have lived within a U-shaped burrow that it constructed in the substrate. From that place of relative safety, it could extend its proboscis in search of prey. Gut contents show that this worm was a predator, often feasting on the hyolithid Haplophrentis (a type of mollusk), generally swallowed them head-first. They also show evidence of cannibalism, which is common in priapulids today.
Because of its bottom living habit and the location of the Burgess Shale site at the foot of a high limestone reef, one may presume Ottoia's relative immobility placed it in danger of being carried away and/or buried by any underwater mud avalanche from the cliff top. This may explain why it remains one of the more abundant specimens of the Burgess Shale fauna.
About 1500 specimens are known. Other priapulid genera from the Burgess Shale formation are Ancalagon, Selkirkia and Louisella.fr:Ottoia
