''Galeolaria'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of coastal tube-building

annelid The annelids (), also known as the segmented worms, are animals that comprise the phylum Annelida (; ). The phylum contains over 22,000 extant species, including ragworms, earthworms, and leeches. The species exist in and have adapted to vario ...

fanworms in the family

Serpulidae The Serpulidae are a family of sessile, tube-building annelid worms in the class Polychaeta. The members of this family differ from other sabellid tube worms in that they have a specialized operculum that blocks the entrance of their tubes w ...

, found from southern Queensland, to New Zealand and southern Australian shores, to Western Australia.

Description

The body is symmetrical, with a branchial crown made up of two lobes, one holding a stalked operculum. The operculum is winged with spines. The operculum seals the tube when the animal retreats into its tube. The tentacles of the branchial crown are used as gills and as a way of capturing food. ''Galeolaria'' build and live within white to grey calcareous tubes, up to 3 cm in length. These tubes may be found singly or in complex interwoven colonies, forming a distinctive zone at the mid tidal regions. They may be so thick and dense that they form a microhabitat for many other creatures. When expose to air at low tide, these animals retreat within their tubes.

Habitat

A distinctive zone-forming species with its upper limit at the lowest neap water high-water mark. Isolated tubes may be found at any level, even above the highest tide, only being wetted by spray.

Species

The genus contains two described species: * '' Galeolaria caespitosa'' Lamarck, 1818 * '' Galeolaria hystrix'' Mörch, 1863

References

* Bennett, I. (1987) W.J. Dakin's classic study: Australian Seashores. p. 194-5, Angus & Robertson, Sydney. * Davey, K. (1998) A Photographic Guide to Seashore Life of Australia. p. 38, New Holland, Sydney. * Edgar, G.J. (1997) Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. p. 162, Reed Books, Kew. * Quinn, G.P., Wescott, G.C. & Synnot, R.N. (1992) Life on the Rocky Shores of South-Eastern Australia: an illustrated field guide. p. 33, Victorian National Parks Association, Melbourne. * Shepherd, S.A. & Thomas, I.M. (1982) Marine Invertebrates of Victoria, Pt. 1. p. 291, South Australian Government Printer, Adelaide. * Underwood, A.J. & Chapman, M.G. (1993) Seashores: a beachcomber's guide. p. 38, New South Wales University Press, Sydney. Serpulidae Polychaete genera {{Annelid-stub