What is the designation given to the various forms of worms, considering they are not a strict taxonomic grouping?
Answer
A description of an incredibly effective lifestyle solution
The text clarifies that the designation "worm" is less about adhering to strict taxonomic rules and more about describing a highly successful and recurrent solution to environmental challenges throughout evolutionary history. This elongated, soft-bodied form has proven incredibly effective, leading it to emerge repeatedly across the tree of life, making its designation descriptive of its successful functional form rather than a precise biological classification.
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