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Description
A simplified phylogeny of the intestinopsa. Intestinopsans are one of the most ancient and diverse of all maxivitan ('animal') phyla on the exoplanet Cerberus, and so this is only touching the surface of their diversity, listing the most important taxa.

Class Euintestinopsa:
Euintestinopsans, or "true chipworms", are the most diverse and basal clade of the Intestinopsa. They are varied but the most well-studied and characteristic members of this group are sedimentary infauna. As dolichae, they include predatory soil worms, decomposers, parasites, and many other niches. Their medusae tend to be solitary epifaunal worms or external parasites of larger organisms. They mostly follow the 'ancestral' anatomy of this phylum. They are present in all sediments in and around all the seas and lakes on Cerberus. Here, the species Litoricola citrus is shown. In this species, the dolichae create U-shaped burrows in sediments in intertidal sandy sediments of the Nix Mare. Though not pictured, their dolicha palps are corrugated and can flatten out into large 'tongues' that extend radially from the anterior opening of their burrows to capture organic matter and small prey items for consumption. The anterior end has gills on it. Their medusae are highly mobile organisms which dwell within the same habitat. They are small, yellow, disc-shaped organisms which vaguely resemble a slice of lemon.

Class Villosabacca:
The dolicha life phase of this class has no common name but can be referred to as "microscopic chipworms". They fill in many microfaunal niches, similar to rotifers on Earth. The medusa life phase is much larger, with the largest species, Eriopomus hirsutus (pictured) being up to 10cm in length. These medusae are sack-like, gelatinous organisms which drift in the surface plankton throughout most of Cerberus' seas and lakes. They possess a small hole on the anterior end, and use rows of cilia on their exterior to capture and pass food particles into this opening for consumption. Pseudofaeces are then released proceeding digestion. Medusae are known colloquially as "sea berries", and can rapidly increase in numbers during algal blooms. They constantly shed microscopic bud eggs into the water, which develop into thousands of dolichae.

Class Glossohelminthes:
[Not pictured]. Glossohelminths are all endoparasites. They are relatively uncommon. The dolicha life phase is simple, with a single, extended palp to acquire nutrients from their host. Their medusae are atrophied into a life phase whose sole purpose is to locate and be ingested by a host organism, after which they metamorphose into a single dolicha.

Subclass Aciculopulvina:
Aciculopulvinates are the sister group to the ferraphytes, both of which form the class Siderophyta. Extant species are only found in the Pompeii Mare. Their dolichae live as suspension-feeding tube worms, dwelling in tubes constructed from sediment granules and mucous, or constructed from iron oxides excreted by glands on their skin. Medusae are more varied between species, but all possess an external armour covering comprised of iron oxide sclerites and spines. They roam slowly across the seabed in search of detritus to consume. Several papillae on the rim of their 'foot' sense chemicals in the water to locate food and avoid predators. Dolichae are known as 'lashworms', while medusae are known as 'pin cushions'. The species pictured is known as Trachytubus spinosus.

Subclass Ferraphyta:
Ferraphytes are an extremely widespread and successful group of intestinopsans. They have developed into the primary flora on land, present in all three of Cerberus' habitable bands. Through a symbiosis with microscopic algae, their dolichae can photosynthesise, acting as foliage. They form tough tubes out of iron oxides reinforced with chitin-like glycoproteins, for structure and protection. Medusae have atrophied into windborne spores for dispersal. A spore, once settled in a suitable location, will metamorphose into a single dolicha, which starts out life as a barnacle-like germling, before gradually growing into an adult ferraphyte. Ancestral ferraphytes were aquatic species, and many basal species still retain this niche. However, they are most successful on land due to the relative lack of competition with algae for light, nutrients, and space. The species pictured is Squameorhiza similis (Order Scutafolia).

Class Arenacaulia:
Arenacauliates are specialised, suspension-feeding worms as dolichae. Their papillae are branched, and suitable for extending into high velocity currents to catch zooplankton and organic particles for consumption. Their medusae are starfish-like predatory organisms which release many microscopic bud eggs during synchronised spawning events. Their bud eggs are buoyant due to a high yolk content, and can disperse tens of kilometres. Dolichae are colloquially known as 'tree worms'. These species are only present within the Geminus and Pompeii Maria. The species pictured is Arenacaulus vulgata.

Order Vexillagnatha:
The first of two orders in the class Archoneuralia. Species in this class possess well-developed nervous systems including a centralised brain. Most species also possess simple, clustered eyes on their anterior ends, behind the palps. All Archoneuralia are present only in equatorial seas including the Geminus, Vacuus, and Pompeii Maria.

Vexillagnaths are shoaling, nektonic predators as dolichae. They live in large schools, swimming with lateral fins supported by chitinous ridges, and using bodily undulations to push themselves through the water. They possess a simple, single eye, but an advanced sense of water pressure similar to the lateral lines of fish on Earth. They have two kinda of palps. The first are large and shaped like sails. Firstly, these are used in swimming to improve maneuverability. In most species, these are used to capture zooplankton from the water as the organisms swim forwards, being covered in stinging and digestive cells. In some species, they can form an enclosed space for capturing larger prey. Medusae are jellyfish-like, planktonic organisms. They are very small, with most species' medusae being zooplanktonic. No extant species are found in the Vacuus Mare. They are known as 'lace jellies' and 'dipperworms'. The species pictured is the most common Vexillagnath in the Geminus Mare, Spheno spheno.

Order Dracoverma:
Dracoverms are the second order in the class Archoneuralia. These are among the most anatomically advanced intestinopsans. Dolichae, known as 'dragon worms', are segmented worms dwelling in sediment or around nooks and crannies of complex marine habitats. They possess four simple compound eyes. Two of their palps are long and whip-like, used in sensing their environment. Four more are used in feeding, with groups of two being fused into 'jaws' (a dorsal and a ventral jaw). These jaws are stretchy and are used to quickly entrap large prey. They form a bag-like enclosure, while stinging cells on the interior paralyse and kill their prey. Proceeding this, digestive enzymes are released. Their posterior end usually has a series of large, external gills. Dragon worms vary in size from a few centimetres to over a metre in length, and have a simple peristaltic heart along their ventral surface (with an open circulatory system). The medusae of Dracoverms are known as 'sea crowns'. They are suspension feeding organisms with long tentacles to ensnare zooplankton. Some are colonial, similar in appearance to soft corals on Earth. They are present in all three major equatorial seas on Cerberus. The species pictured is the largest dracoverm, Tyrannodracus venustus, which grows to over a metre in length.

Description
A simplified phylogeny of the intestinopsa. Intestinopsans are one of the most ancient and diverse of all maxivitan ('animal') phyla on the exoplanet Cerberus, and so this is only touching the surface of their diversity, listing the most important taxa.

Class Euintestinopsa:
Euintestinopsans, or "true chipworms", are the most diverse and basal clade of the Intestinopsa. They are varied but the most well-studied and characteristic members of this group are sedimentary infauna. As dolichae, they include predatory soil worms, decomposers, parasites, and many other niches. Their medusae tend to be solitary epifaunal worms or external parasites of larger organisms. They mostly follow the 'ancestral' anatomy of this phylum. They are present in all sediments in and around all the seas and lakes on Cerberus. Here, the species Litoricola citrus is shown. In this species, the dolichae create U-shaped burrows in sediments in intertidal sandy sediments of the Nix Mare. Though not pictured, their dolicha palps are corrugated and can flatten out into large 'tongues' that extend radially from the anterior opening of their burrows to capture organic matter and small prey items for consumption. The anterior end has gills on it. Their medusae are highly mobile organisms which dwell within the same habitat. They are small, yellow, disc-shaped organisms which vaguely resemble a slice of lemon.

Class Villosabacca:
The dolicha life phase of this class has no common name but can be referred to as "microscopic chipworms". They fill in many microfaunal niches, similar to rotifers on Earth. The medusa life phase is much larger, with the largest species, Eriopomus hirsutus (pictured) being up to 10cm in length. These medusae are sack-like, gelatinous organisms which drift in the surface plankton throughout most of Cerberus' seas and lakes. They possess a small hole on the anterior end, and use rows of cilia on their exterior to capture and pass food particles into this opening for consumption. Pseudofaeces are then released proceeding digestion. Medusae are known colloquially as "sea berries", and can rapidly increase in numbers during algal blooms. They constantly shed microscopic bud eggs into the water, which develop into thousands of dolichae.

Class Glossohelminthes:
[Not pictured]. Glossohelminths are all endoparasites. They are relatively uncommon. The dolicha life phase is simple, with a single, extended palp to acquire nutrients from their host. Their medusae are atrophied into a life phase whose sole purpose is to locate and be ingested by a host organism, after which they metamorphose into a single dolicha.

Subclass Aciculopulvina:
Aciculopulvinates are the sister group to the ferraphytes, both of which form the class Siderophyta. Extant species are only found in the Pompeii Mare. Their dolichae live as suspension-feeding tube worms, dwelling in tubes constructed from sediment granules and mucous, or constructed from iron oxides excreted by glands on their skin. Medusae are more varied between species, but all possess an external armour covering comprised of iron oxide sclerites and spines. They roam slowly across the seabed in search of detritus to consume. Several papillae on the rim of their 'foot' sense chemicals in the water to locate food and avoid predators. Dolichae are known as 'lashworms', while medusae are known as 'pin cushions'. The species pictured is known as Trachytubus spinosus.

Subclass Ferraphyta:
Ferraphytes are an extremely widespread and successful group of intestinopsans. They have developed into the primary flora on land, present in all three of Cerberus' habitable bands. Through a symbiosis with microscopic algae, their dolichae can photosynthesise, acting as foliage. They form tough tubes out of iron oxides reinforced with chitin-like glycoproteins, for structure and protection. Medusae have atrophied into windborne spores for dispersal. A spore, once settled in a suitable location, will metamorphose into a single dolicha, which starts out life as a barnacle-like germling, before gradually growing into an adult ferraphyte. Ancestral ferraphytes were aquatic species, and many basal species still retain this niche. However, they are most successful on land due to the relative lack of competition with algae for light, nutrients, and space. The species pictured is Squameorhiza similis (Order Scutafolia).

Class Arenacaulia:
Arenacauliates are specialised, suspension-feeding worms as dolichae. Their papillae are branched, and suitable for extending into high velocity currents to catch zooplankton and organic particles for consumption. Their medusae are starfish-like predatory organisms which release many microscopic bud eggs during synchronised spawning events. Their bud eggs are buoyant due to a high yolk content, and can disperse tens of kilometres. Dolichae are colloquially known as 'tree worms'. These species are only present within the Geminus and Pompeii Maria. The species pictured is Arenacaulus vulgata.

Order Vexillagnatha:
The first of two orders in the class Archoneuralia. Species in this class possess well-developed nervous systems including a centralised brain. Most species also possess simple, clustered eyes on their anterior ends, behind the palps. All Archoneuralia are present only in equatorial seas including the Geminus, Vacuus, and Pompeii Maria.

Vexillagnaths are shoaling, nektonic predators as dolichae. They live in large schools, swimming with lateral fins supported by chitinous ridges, and using bodily undulations to push themselves through the water. They possess a simple, single eye, but an advanced sense of water pressure similar to the lateral lines of fish on Earth. They have two kinda of palps. The first are large and shaped like sails. Firstly, these are used in swimming to improve maneuverability. In most species, these are used to capture zooplankton from the water as the organisms swim forwards, being covered in stinging and digestive cells. In some species, they can form an enclosed space for capturing larger prey. Medusae are jellyfish-like, planktonic organisms. They are very small, with most species' medusae being zooplanktonic. No extant species are found in the Vacuus Mare. They are known as 'lace jellies' and 'dipperworms'. The species pictured is the most common Vexillagnath in the Geminus Mare, Spheno spheno.

Order Dracoverma:
Dracoverms are the second order in the class Archoneuralia. These are among the most anatomically advanced intestinopsans. Dolichae, known as 'dragon worms', are segmented worms dwelling in sediment or around nooks and crannies of complex marine habitats. They possess four simple compound eyes. Two of their palps are long and whip-like, used in sensing their environment. Four more are used in feeding, with groups of two being fused into 'jaws' (a dorsal and a ventral jaw). These jaws are stretchy and are used to quickly entrap large prey. They form a bag-like enclosure, while stinging cells on the interior paralyse and kill their prey. Proceeding this, digestive enzymes are released. Their posterior end usually has a series of large, external gills. Dragon worms vary in size from a few centimetres to over a metre in length, and have a simple peristaltic heart along their ventral surface (with an open circulatory system). The medusae of Dracoverms are known as 'sea crowns'. They are suspension feeding organisms with long tentacles to ensnare zooplankton. Some are colonial, similar in appearance to soft corals on Earth. They are present in all three major equatorial seas on Cerberus. The species pictured is the largest dracoverm, Tyrannodracus venustus, which grows to over a metre in length.