Family SABELLIDAE

Birpira manicata

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Family SABELLIDAE

Fan Worm, Feather-duster Worm, Peacock Worm

Compiler and date details

Jan 2011 - P. Hutchings & M. Yerman, Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

1 August 2003

Introduction

Sabellids occur on both hard substrates and soft sediments, from equatorial to polar latitudes and from the intertidal to slope depths. Some bore into calcareous substrates such as coral reefs. There are several freshwater taxa among Sabellidae, including Caobangia (symbiotic in freshwater molluscs but not recorded from Australia) and free-living taxa such as Manayunkia athalassia from Australia.

Sabellids, also known as feather-duster worms, use their tentacular crown to trap suspended particles, both for food and tube building. A few species, however, have been shown to be surface deposit feeders, and further studies may show that this behaviour is more common, especially among those small species living on muddy sediments. The tentacular crown is also respiratory and the radioles carry photosensitive eyespots in some taxa (curiously, eyespots are also present on the pygidium in some sabellids).

Some of the small sabellid species may occur in dense aggregations whereas larger species tend to be solitary. (An exception is Sabella spallanzanii, an introduction to southern Australian ports and elsewhere, which is a large species often found in aggregates.)

Figures of 13 genera and 30+ species were given by Beesley et al. (2000: App. 1) for representation of the family in Australian waters, and 43 genera and 350+ species worldwide. This database includes 44 species from 22 genera.

See Rouse (2000) for detailed treatment of the family.

Database Notes

proof read against Day & Hutchings 1979 by RW; no subsequent records added
checked against DELTA CD, 2003 by RTJ

Diagnosis

General features. Body shape vermiform; segments numerous (more than about 15); regionation present, comprising distinct thorax and abdomen; regions demarcated by inversion of parapodia. Thoracic membrane absent. Faecal groove present. Pygidium simple ring or cone. Pygidial appendages absent.
Head & head structures. Head comprising a radiolar crown around mouth. Operculum absent. Eyes present; one pair, or multiple; situated on radiolar crown, or situated on peristomium, or situated on pygidium (includes compound types). Palps absent. Nuchal organs absent. Peristomial ring single, with collar.
Pharynx & pharyngeal apparatus. Foregut without a distinct ventral or axial organ.
Body segments & parapodia. First segment chaetigerous. First chaetiger with notochaetae only. Parapodia biramous with prominent parapodial lobes; notopodial lobes represented by at least one chaetal lobe, or low lateral ridges (tori) (posteriorly); neuropodial lobes low ridges (tori), or represented by at least one chaetal lobe (posteriorly). Dorsal cirri absent. Ventral cirri absent. Branchiae absent.
Chaetae. Notochaetae present. Aciculae absent. Capillary chaetae hair-like, or broadly expanded distally, symmetrical; smooth, or spinose. Spines absent. Hooks absent. Uncini present (short and long handles; latter resemble hooks); with teeth in vertical series, teeth usually similar-sized (=pectinate), or with teeth arranged in transverse series above an enlarged main fang (=crested); arranged in one or two rows.
Tube & burrow. Tube absent or unconsolidated (rarely), or membraneous, or leathery or parchment like. Burrow traces absent, or irregular borings into calcareous substrata (rarely).

The above description was generated from: 'C.J. Glasby & K. Fauchald (2002 onwards). POLiKEY. An information system for polychaete families and higher taxa: Version 1: September 2002.'
(See ABRS website: Online Resources: Polikey, for Version 2, released June 2003)