#669: Roundworm

There are perhaps as many as 1 million species of Roundworm, a Phylum of Nematode, over half of which are parasitic. Widespread and versatile, various species inhabit every ecosystem from the deepest oceanic trenches to the driest deserts. They are also, most famously, known to occupy the internal organs of vertebrates, but species are also adapted to parasitise plants and insects as well. Long and slender, parasitic Roundworms have a distinctive head, which may contain head shields and three or six lips, equipped with an array of teeth. They may also be ornamented with bristles, ridges and other distinctive structures. Eggs are deposited in the soil via the host's fecal matter, where they can be ingested directly, or indirectly, by a new host. Once hatched, the larvae may affect the host's behavioural patterns and can have a detrimental effect on their health.

Creature Feature #557: Oxpecker

The Oxpeckers are two species of passerine, both making their home in the open savannah of sub-Saharan Africa. They feed almost exclusively from the bodies of large herbivorous mammals. Diet consists predominantly of ticks and other parasitic insects, although research shows that they also open wounds and enlarge existing ones, drinking the blood of the mammal. This suggests a rather less-than mutalistic relationship. Some hosts actively try and dislodge their Oxpecker hitch-hikers. Courtship and mating occur on the back of the host, during the rainy season. Nests are built in cavities: both tree and rock, and up to five eggs are laid.

This is the Red-billed species.

Note: I will not be drawing an Ox, even though this is the most commonly associated mammal with the letter "O". This is because Ox are not actually a species - although some species are called "wild oxen" as a colloquiolism. Officially, Ox are neutered bull cattle. Therefore, they do not qualify for this project.

Creature Feature #481: Mosquito

Mosquitoes belong to the midge family and one of the most irritating and dangerous insects in the world. Female Mosquitoes are ectoparasites, using a tube-and-needle like mouthpart to pierce the skin of her prey and then drinking its blood. This action leaves an irritated patch of reddened skin, that is exceptionally itchy. Worse however, is the Mosquitoes tendency to act as a vector for infectious diseases - such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, west Nile virus and filariasis. Mosquito require water to reproduce, but some species are capable of breeding in stagnant, standing water such as blocked gutters, disused watering cans and bird baths.

This species, the Asian Tiger Mosquito, has managed to spread herself throughout the world. She is an aggressive day-time biter, and has adapted well to colder climates.

Creature Feature #416: Leech

Leech are blood-suckling annelids, generally found in rainforest or water. Currently 700 species are recognised, of which around 12% are terrestrial. This species, the Tiger Leech, is a terrestrial species,  found in the moist forests of Borneo. Leeches are characterised by their anterior and posterior suckers. The posterior ones anchor the creature to a surface, as they wait for prey to brush past.  With the blood-scuking species, the mouth connects with the prey and attaches using suction. A mucus secreted into the host's bloodstream prevents the blood from clotting and numbs them to recognition. Not all species are capable of biting - some require a wound to be already present - and others do not drink blood at all, but instead devour invertebrate prey whole. The leech will remain attached until it becomes engorged with blood, at which point it will drop off, although the wound may bleed for a time afterwards.