Rachel D'Silva wrote:
> I am a MPhil student with my project in Discovery Bay,Jamaica. I have
> found a worm on some of my coral samples. Can anyone help me identify
> it or point me in the right direction? You can view the photos on the
> web link below.
>http://picasaweb.google.com/rachdsilva/Worm
Rachel, it's Family Nereididae. One can be very wrong with id'ing
nereids from gross features, but just from the head it might even be
genus Nereis, although looking at the parapodia the neuropodial branches
look suspiciously better developed than the notopodial. But you need to
examine for presence and the pattern of paragnaths (chitinised bars or
points) on the proboscis - this is essential for nereidids - and also
look for the presence of any distinctly different (from the rest)
falcigers (compound chaetae (or might even be simple chaetae (thinking
Ceratonereis here)) with hooked blade tips)) especially in the parapodia
of posterior segments. If present they will be 1-2 per parapodium.
Geoff
--
Geoff Read <g.read from niwa.co.nz>
http://www.annelida.net/http://www.niwascience.co.nz/ncabb/
