''Phyllodoce lineata'' 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), ...

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 ...

Phyllodocidae Phyllodocidae is a Family (biology), family of polychaete worms. Worms in this family live on the seabed and may burrow under the sediment. Characteristics Members of the Phyllodocidae are characterised by an eversible pharynx and leaf-like dors ...

. It is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea where it occurs in the intertidal and shallow sub-tidal zones on soft sediment.

Description

This is a multi-segmented worm of variable length, a worm with 300 segments being about long. The

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

is roughly pentagonal. Like other members of the genus, the prostomium bears two pairs of antennae, a pair of eyes and a pair of large, retractile,

nuchal The nape is the back of the neck. In technical anatomical/medical terminology, the nape is also called the nucha (from the Medieval Latin rendering of the Arabic , ). The corresponding adjective is ''nuchal'', as in the term ''nuchal rigidity' ...

organs. The

proboscis A proboscis () is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In invertebrates, the term usually refers to tubular arthropod mouthparts, mouthparts used for feeding and sucking. In vertebrates, a pr ...

is eversible and is divided into two distinct parts. The

proximal Standard anatomical terms of location are used to describe unambiguously the anatomy of humans and other animals. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...

part of the proboscis bears about 25 longitudinal rows of tiny papillae, and the

distal Standard anatomical terms of location are used to describe unambiguously the anatomy of humans and other animals. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position provi ...

part bears 6 longitudinal rows of larger, knob-like protuberances, and a ring of papillae at the tip. The body is elongated and of even width, apart from a tapering tip. Long tentacle-like cirri are borne on the first 7 body segments, and fleshy paddle-like

parapodia In invertebrates, the term parapodium ( Gr. ''para'', beyond or beside + ''podia'', feet; : parapodia) refers to lateral outgrowths or protrusions from the body. Parapodia are predominantly found in annelids, where they are paired, unjointed late ...

are borne on the remainder. The eyes are red and there is some dark pigmentation in front of them and along the sides of the body.

Distribution

''Phyllodoce lineata'' occurs in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, its range including the North Sea, the west coast of Scotland and Ireland, the Bay of Biscay, the Iberian peninsula and the Mediterranean Sea. It is found in the intertidal and shallow sub-tidal zones on sandy and muddy substrates.

Ecology

predator Predation is a biological interaction in which one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common List of feeding behaviours, feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation ...

and

scavenger Scavengers are animals that consume Corpse decomposition, dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While scavenging generally refers to carnivores feeding on carrion, it is also a he ...

, ''P. lineata'' feeds mostly on other polychaete worms. The sexes are separate and fertilisation is external. Eggs typically hatch into

trochophore A trochophore () is a type of free-swimming planktonic marine larva with several bands of cilia. By moving their cilia rapidly, they make a water eddy to control their movement, and to bring their food closer in order to capture it more easily. ...

larvae, which are

plankton Plankton are the diverse collection of organisms that drift in Hydrosphere, water (or atmosphere, air) but are unable to actively propel themselves against ocean current, currents (or wind). The individual organisms constituting plankton are ca ...

ic, and when sufficiently developed, undergo

metamorphosis Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops including birth transformation or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and different ...

into segmented juveniles.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2364628 Phyllodocida Annelids of the Atlantic Ocean Fauna of the Mediterranean Sea Animals described in 1870