Microcosm: Mud Dragon fridge magnet

prusaprinters

<p>A simplified model of a mud dragon: a kinorhynch (genus Echinoderes).&nbsp;</p><p>These animals occupy the space between sand grains in habitats ranging from beaches, to the deepest depths of the ocean. Their bodies are visibly divided into head, neck, and trunk (11 segments) [1]. Typical for Kinorhyncha is a retractable mouth cone and the scalid-covered introvert. In the present model, both mouth and introvert are everted.</p><p>Meiofauna denotes tiny animals that evolved a high degree of miniaturization. Meiofaunal animals are oftentimes smaller than many single-celled organisms, ranging in size from 45-1000 µm. Many meiofaunal organisms live in the interstitium of marine sediments: the space between sand grains. My goal is to make these tiny, lovecraftian creatures more visible.</p><h3>Sources</h3><p>[1] Sørensen, M. &amp; Pardos, F (2020).: Kinorhyncha. In: Guide to the identification of marine meiofauna, Edited by A. Schmidt-Rhaesa, ISBN: 978-3-89937-244-1</p>