''Scalibregma inflatum'', also known as T headed worm, is a burrowing marine

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

. It is a cosmopolitan species that can be found from the Arctic to Antarctica, although most probably several species are confounded.

Morphology

Up to 6 cm long with an orange body with 50–60 segments. Body is composed of a wide anterior part of segments 15–17 and a long slim posterior part. Prostomium rectangular shaped with two lateral horns making it appear as a ''T. peristomium'' without chaetae. Parapodia small and oval at first increasing in size from segments 16–18. Four pairs of branching gills dorsally on 2-5 segment with chaetae.

Ecology

Mainly found in muddy substrate, but can also be found in sand and between stones and shells. ''S. inflatum'' is a deposit feeder. During the spawning period ''S. inflatum'' undergoes

epitoky Epitoky is a process that occurs in many species of polychaete marine worms wherein a sexually immature worm (the atoke) is modified or transformed into a sexually mature worm (the epitoke). Epitokes are pelagic morphs capable of sexual repro ...

Systematics

''Scalibregma inflatum'' is found within the polychaete family Scalibregmatidae. The genus ''Scalibregma'' is composed of 15 different species.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2953454 Polychaetes Animals described in 1843 Taxa named by Martin Rathke Cosmopolitan animals