Michael,
Pear-shaped egg cocoons of this type are well-known for orbiniids. I
reported these for Leitoscoloplos pugettensis and they are well known in
other orbiniid genera and species as well (Blake 1980; Chapman 1965; Okuda
1946; Schroeder & Hermans 1975; Thorson 1946, etc.). The cocoons I
described for L. pugettensis, were ca. 2 cm long plus the long extension
that anchored it in the sediment. The one you are holding is ca. 4 cm long,
so either a much larger orbiniid, or another kind of polychaete. Similar
cocoons are known for capitellids. I have also recorded a cocoon like this
for the spionid Parascolelepis cf. tridentata in Blake (2006).
Let us know what species you end up calling this.
Jim Blake
jablake9 from gmail.com
On Tue, Mar 31, 2015 at 10:40 AM, Reuscher, Michael <
Michael.Reuscher from tamucc.edu> wrote:
> Dear friends and colleagues,
>> Can you help me identify the egg case in the picture below? It looks like
> a polychaete egg case to me. Can anybody confirm this and maybe even
> suggest which family, genus, or even species this may belong to? It was
> found at the Florida Keys.
>> Thank you!
> Michael
>> ________________________________
> Michael Reuscher, Ph.D.
> Postdoctoral Research Associate
> Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
> Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
> 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869
> Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5869
> U.S.A.
> ________________________________
>>> [cid:image001.jpg from 01D06AEF.808A7530]
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James A. Blake, Ph.D.
Aquatic Research & Consulting
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E-Mail: jablake9 from gmail.com
