''Cirriformia capensis'', commonly known as the orange thread-gilled worm, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of marine

polychaete Polychaeta () is a paraphyletic class of generally marine Annelid, annelid worms, common name, commonly called bristle worms or polychaetes (). Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia that bear many bristles, called c ...

worm in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Cirratulidae Cirratulidae is a family of marine polychaete worms. Members of the family are found worldwide, mostly living in mud or rock crevices. Most are deposit feeders, but some graze on algae or are suspension feeders. Although subject to multiple re ...

Description

Orange thread-gilled worms grow to up to 10 cm in total length. They are soft bodied worms which lie buried in sand or mud or between mussels. Only the long tangled orange gills and soft food gathering tentacles are visible.Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. ''Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa''

Distribution

These animals are found off the southern African coast from Angola to Durban in South Africa and are found subtidally to 20m underwater.

Synonyms

The following species are synonyms of ''Cirriformia capensis'': *''Cirratulus australis'' Stimpson, 1856 (subjective synonym) *''Cirratulus capensis'' Schmarda, 1861 (objective synonym)

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2633576 Terebellida Animals described in 1861