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Related FAQs: TWA Invertebrates,
Fishes of the Tropical West Atlantic,
Tropical West Atlantic 2, Related
Articles: Algae, Vascular Plants,
Introduction to Fishwatcher's Guide Series Pieces/Sections,
Lachnolaimus maxiumus/Hogfish,
Hogfishes of the Genus Bodianus,
Invertebrates, Algae and Vascular Plants of The Tropical West
Atlantic: Bahamas to Brazil, Part 9 To:
Part 1, Part 2,
Part 3, Part 4,
Part 5, Part 6,
Part 7, Part 8,
Part 10, Part 11,
Part 12, Part 13,
Part 14, Part 15, |
| | Bob Fenner | |
Order Antipatharia: Black Corals, Thorny Corals |
Antipathes sp. Bushy Black Coral. Finely branched to the point
of bushiness. Colored gold to brownish. Circumtropical genus. N.
Sulawesi pix. |  
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Cirripathes (Stichopathes) leutkeni, Wire Coral. Tropical West
Atlantic. Up to fourteen feet in length. Cozumel image. | 
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Worms:
Polychaetous Annelids aka Bristleworms, Featherdusters... to
aquarists are sub-divided into two sub-classes: |
A) Errantia: Characteristics include numerous, similar
segments, well-developed lateral processes (parapodia, acicula,
setae). Have definitive "heads" with a pharynx with jaws or teeth.
Include swimming (six pelagic families!), crawling, burrowing and
tube-dwelling members. A member of this group in question:
Hermodice canunculata, a larger species of "Bristleworm".
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B) Sedentaria: Polychaetes that commonly display a high
degree of segmental differentiation; parapodia reduced, without
specialized acicula or setae, prostomium (head) without sensory
structures but with tentacles and palps, other feeding
structures. No teeth or jaws present! Several families including
the two commonly included in the trade and hobby as
fan and feather duster worms, mainly (there are others):
i. Sabellidae with non-calcareous tubes. See example
species below.
ii. Serpulidae with calcareous tubes
(Spirobranchus gigantea at right) | 
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Errantiate Polychaetes: |
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. |
Sedentariate Polychaetes: Featherdusters, Tubeworms... |
Anamobaea onstedii, the Split-Crown Feather Duster, family
Sabellidae. Radioles in a radial arrangement, bilaterally
symmetrically marked. Soft tubes generally unexposed. Found solitary
or in small groups. Belize and Bonaire pix. |  
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Bispira variegata, Variegated Feather Duster Worms, Family
Sabellidae. Tropical west Atlantic. 3/4- 1 1/2" in size. Parchment
tubes usually hidden below grade, in which they rapidly retreat if
disturbed. Here in the sand in Bonaire. |  
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Bispira brunnea, Social Feather Duster Worms, Family Sabellidae.
Come in whites, pink, purple and brown-banded varieties/colors.
Groups in the Bahamas and Cozumel. |  
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To: Part 1, Part 2,
Part 3, Part 4, Part
5, Part 6, Part 7,
Part 8, Part 10,
Part 11, Part 12,
Part 13, Part 14,
Part 15,
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