''Capitulatinoe'' is a genus of marine

annelids The annelids (Annelida , from Latin ', "little ring"), also known as the segmented worms, are a large phylum, with over 22,000 extant species including ragworms, earthworms, and leeches. The species exist in and have adapted to various ecolo ...

in the family

Polynoidae Polynoidae is a family of marine Polychaete worms known as "scale worms" due to the scale-like elytra on the dorsal surface. Almost 900 species are currently recognised belonging to 9 subfamilies and 167 genera. They are active hunters, but gene ...

(scale worms). The genus includes a single species, ''Capitulatinoe cupisetis'' which occurs intertidally in northwestern Australia.Hanley, J. Russell and Burke, Melanie 1989. A new genus and species of commensal scaleworm (Polychaeta:Polynoidae) from Broome, Western Australia. The Beagle, Records of the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences, 6(1): 97–103.

Description

''Capitulatinoe cupisetis'' is a long-bodied species, with up to 180 segments and 75 to at least 100 pairs of

elytra An elytron (; ; , ) is a modified, hardened forewing of beetles (Coleoptera), though a few of the true bugs ( Hemiptera) such as the family Schizopteridae are extremely similar; in true bugs, the forewings are called hemelytra (sometimes altern ...

. The antennae are located beneath the

prostomium The prostomium (From Ancient Greek, meaning "before the mouth"; plural: prostomia; sometimes also called the "acron") is the cephalized first body segment in an annelid worm's body at the anterior end. It is in front of (but does not include) th ...

and the lateral antennae are inserted slightly dorsal to the median antenna. The neuropodium is rounded.

Notochaetae A chaeta or cheta (from Greek χαίτη “crest, mane, flowing hair"; plural: chaetae) is a chitinous bristle or seta found in annelid worms, (although the term is also frequently used to describe similar structures in other invertebrates such ...

are absent and there are only a few neurochaetae. The neurochaetae each have a distinctive half-moon shaped pocket on one side formed by a curved row of fine teeth and bidentate tips.

Biology and Ecology

''Capitulatinoe cupisetis'' has a

commensal Commensalism is a long-term biological interaction ( symbiosis) in which members of one species gain benefits while those of the other species neither benefit nor are harmed. This is in contrast with mutualism, in which both organisms benefit fr ...

relationship with the

sea star Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars. Starfish ...

, '' Astropecten granulatus''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q42611583 Phyllodocida Polychaete genera