|
| |
| Related FAQs:
Bristle/Fireworms 1, Bristle/Fireworms 2, Bristle/Fireworms 3, Bristle/Fireworms
4, Polychaete
Identification, Polychaete ID
2, Polychaete ID 3,
Polychaete ID 4,
Polychaete ID 5,
Polychaete Behavior,
Polychaete Compatibility,
Polychaete Compatibility 2,
Polychaete
System, Polychaete Selection, Polychaete
Feeding, Polychaete Disease, Polychaete
Reproduction,
Featherdusters, Featherdusters 2, Tubeworms
3, Tubeworm ID, Tubeworm
Behavior, Tubeworm Compatibility, Tubeworm
Selection, Tubeworm System, Tubeworm
Feeding, Tubeworm Disease, Tubeworm
Reproduction, Worms
in General, Related Articles: Featherduster Worms,
Worm Diversity,
/The Conscientious
Marine Aquarist
Bristles,
Feather Dusters Fire and More: Polychaete
Worm Diversity |
|
|
By Bob Fenner |
Spirobranchus giganteus
|
| The vast majority of worms are good indeed... for keeping your
substrates open, free of accumulating mulm, providing food for
macro-eaters as well as filter feeders (their sex products)... Here is a
side view through a healthy substrate. |
 |
| Amphinomid... Fireworm of the family Amphinomidae. If
it's not visually obvious where these worms get their common name, you'll
understand if you handle them! The bristles attached to their noto- and
neuropodia are sharp and hurt like no tomorrow to get stuck by. Ouch! This
one out and about at night in N. Sulawesi. |
 |
| Anamobaea onstedii Caribbean. This image from
Belize. |
|
| Bispira brunnea Social Feather Duster. Family
Sabellidae. Crowns 3/4- 1 1/4" diameter. Colonial, parchment like
tubes. St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. |
|
| Bispira variegata (Montagu 1804), the Variegated
Feather Duster. Family Sabellidae. Tropical West Atlantic. 1-2 centimeter
in crown diameter. A common "contaminant" in live rock collected
and cultured from the area. Aquarium photo. |
|
| Chloeia fusca McIntosh 1885. Family Amphinomidae).
Indo-West Pacific; East Africa to Indonesia, Japan. On sandy, muddy
bottoms, actively seeking prey. Positively phototropic. Note two dark
dorsal bands. N. Sulawesi pic. |
|
| Filograna implexa Berkeley 1828, Fan Worms. Family
Sabellidae. Cosmopolitan; all tropical seas. Often found on pier pilings,
in harbors. Photos: Antigua (Caribbean), N. Sulawesi (Indo.). |
 
|
| Hermodice canunculata, a larger species of
"Bristleworm". Large pleated structures (caruncle) on all
segments denote this too common, out and about species in the tropical
West Atlantic. Family Amphinomidae. Four to six inches total length. Often
found feeding on gorgonians, anemones, hard corals. Close-up to show you
part of the "fire", the sharp bristles that make up the podia on
each segment of the body. Bahamas, Cancun and Cozumel images by day and
Bonaire at night.. |
| Loimia medusa (Savigny 1820), the Medusa or Spaghetti
Worm. Cosmopolitan; all tropical seas. Found between rocks in silt to
sandy substrates. Tube-dwelling (family Terebellidae) worm that is most
often recognized by its extended feeding tentacles. Hawai'i image. |
|
| Pomatosteges stellatus, the Horseshoe Worm. Tropical
West Atlantic. Family Serpulidae (calcareous tubeworms). To 1 1/2 inch
crown diameter. Doubled radioles, U-shaped crown, long, heavy operculum,
often grown over by algae. Belize photos. |
 
|
| Sabellastarte indica (Savigny 1818), the Magnificent
Banded Fanworm. Cosmopolitan; all tropical seas. To four inches in
diameter (coronal head). The most common "Feather Duster Worm"
sold in the pet trade. These two off of Gili Air, Lombok, Indonesia. |
|
| Sabellastarte sanctijosephi (Gravier 1908).
Indo-Pacific; Eastern Africa to the Cook Islands. Image shot off of Pulau
Redang, Malaysia. Characterized by their two tentacular crown head. |
|
| Spirobranchus giganteus Pallas 1766, Horned Christmas
Tree, aka Bisma Rock Worms. Cosmopolitan; all tropical seas. Most often
found in association (burrowed in) Porites and Millepora. To an inch in
diameter. Hard to maintain in captivity over any period of time. Need
frequent particulate feedings, usually low light, though the coral
"host" requires intense.. Pulau Redang, Malaysia photo. |
|
Family Sabellidae: Fanworms. Non-calcareous tubes produced that they
live in, feed from. Filter feeders who retract their tentacular crowns when
alerted. Often found attached to dead coral, or in sediment with part of tube
exposed. Collected most often in "polluted" harbors in mud/muck. Includes genera: Sabellastarte, Bispira,
| Typical sabellid habitat... in the mud/muck... Many
aquarists don't have similar environments (!) to house their
Featherdusters... high nutrient, plankton levels... Another reason why
these animals are best placed in "old" well-established systems,
with ooze about, refugium sumps... This Bispira sp. in N. Sulawesi. |
|
Family Serpulidae: Calcareous Tubeworms. Sometimes further divided
into worms with spiral tubes (Spirorbidae) and straight (Serpulidae). Produce
white, calcareous tubes, often with longitudinal ridges, thickenings, spines.
Shape, size of cover (operculum) often useful in determining species. Includes
genera: Serpula, Spirobranchus, Protula
| Some serpulids are tiny, down to barely noticeable with the
naked eye. Here are some calcium tube dwelling ones on a relatively large
Sea Squirt in N. Sulawesi. Smaller than pinhead size. |
 
|
Marine Hitchhiker/Critter ID
(Maughmer, Toonen, Tompkins)
| |
|
