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A scaleworm's setal snorkel
Author(s) -
Pernet Bruno
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
invertebrate biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.486
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1744-7410
pISSN - 1077-8306
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7410.2000.tb00003.x
Subject(s) - seta , annelid , biology , anatomy , sediment , appendage , paleontology , coelom , ecology , genus
. Setae of the first segment of the marine annelid Sthenelais berkeleyi (family Sigalionidae) are arranged in the shape of an antero‐dorsally directed tube. When the worm is in resting position buried in sediment, this setal tube projects slightly from the sediment surface. A current of water is drawn into it by cilia on the parapodia of the first segment. The water is then diverted to a pair of lateral spaces between the body wall and elytra, moved posteriorly in these spaces along the length of the body by segmental cilia, and eventually exits posteriorly or ventrally. This flow permits the worm to respire while remaining buried and immobile for long periods of time, waiting for prey to move over the sediment near it. Setae of the first segment are probably used as snorkels in some other infaunal sigalionids as well.