Which group of worms represents the largest physical extreme mentioned, capable of reaching lengths of several meters?
Answer
Certain marine polychaetes
The size spectrum covered by animals generally referred to as worms is immense, ranging from the nearly invisible to the macroscopic. At the smaller end are microscopic parasitic nematodes that live within host tissues. However, the largest forms mentioned in this context are certain segmented marine worms belonging to the polychaete class. These specialized marine annelids have been documented to achieve impressive lengths, sometimes extending several meters, demonstrating how the basic worm blueprint can be adapted for large-scale existence in deep-sea or benthic environments.
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