BIOTIC Species Information for Aphrodita aculeata
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Researched by | Lizzie Tyler | Data supplied by | University of Sheffield | ||||||||||||
Refereed by | This information is not refereed. | ||||||||||||||
Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
Scientific name | Aphrodita aculeata | Common name | Sea mouse | ||||||||||||
MCS Code | P19 | Recent Synonyms | Aphrodite aculeta | ||||||||||||
Phylum | Annelida | Subphylum | |||||||||||||
Superclass | Class | Polychaeta | |||||||||||||
Subclass | Order | Phyllodocida | |||||||||||||
Suborder | Aphroditoidea | Family | Aphroditidae | ||||||||||||
Genus | Aphrodita | Species | aculeata | ||||||||||||
Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
Additional Information | Aphrodita aculeata is named after the Greek goddess of love. All members of the family Aphroditidae are characterized by scales (the elytra) on their back (dorsal surface) which, in Aphrodita aculeata, are covered by a conspicuous layer of long, fine chaetae forming a mat of 'felt'. Detailed descriptions of this species are given by Fordham (1925), Chamber & Muir (1997) and Barnich & Fiege (2000). Aphrodita aculeata is distinguished from Aphrodita alta and Aphrodita perarmata by the presence of iridescent lateral chaetae in Aphrodita aculeata (Barnich & Fiege, 2000). Individuals may be found washed up on shores after storms or stranded during low tides. |
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Taxonomy References | Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Chambers & Muir, 1997, Howson & Picton, 1997, Fordham, 1925, Rouse & Pleijel, 2001, MBA, 1957, Parker et al., 2001, Barnich & Fiege, 2000, | ||||||||||||||
General Biology | |||||||||||||||
Growth form | Vermiform segmented |
Feeding method | Predator Scavenger |
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Mobility/Movement | Crawler Burrower |
Environmental position | Infaunal |
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Typical food types | Other polychaetes (see additional information below). | Habit | Free living | ||||||||||||
Bioturbator | Diffusive mixing | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | ||||||||||||
Fragility | Intermediate | Size | Medium(11-20 cm) | ||||||||||||
Height | Growth Rate | Insufficient information | |||||||||||||
Adult dispersal potential | 1km-10km | Dependency | Independent | ||||||||||||
Sociability | Solitary | ||||||||||||||
Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
General Biology Additional Information | Little information on the biology of this species was found. However, a detailed description of its anatomy is given by Fordham (1925).
Feeding Mettam (1971) suggested that the wide body shape of Aphrodite aculeata was an adaptation to the 'slow crawling' mechanism of locomotion found in other polychaetes. Forward propulsion is achieved by movement of individual parapodia in a 'fast stepping pattern' rather than the sinusoidal undulations characteristic of many other polychaete worms. For an illustration and detail of the musculature and mechanism involved see Mettam (1971).
Commensals |
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Biology References | Mettam, 1971, Mettam, 1980, Fordham, 1925, Rouse & Pleijel, 2001, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data, Chambers & Garwood, 1992, | ||||||||||||||
Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
Distribution in Britain & Ireland | Found around the coasts of Britain and Ireland. | ||||||||||||||
Global distribution | Reported from the North Atlantic including off Newfoundland and the North Sea, the Baltic, and the Mediterranean. | ||||||||||||||
Biogeographic range | Not researched | Depth range | |||||||||||||
Migratory | Non-migratory / Resident | ||||||||||||||
Distribution Additional Information | Barnich & Fiege (2000) cite a record of Aphrodita aculeata from a depth of 3000 m in the Atlantic. | ||||||||||||||
Substratum preferences | Fine clean sand Coarse clean sand Mixed Mud Muddy sand Muddy gravel Sandy mud |
Physiographic preferences | Open coast Offshore seabed Strait / sound Sealoch Enclosed coast / Embayment |
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Biological zone | Upper Infralittoral Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral |
Wave exposure | Exposed Moderately Exposed Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered |
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Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn) Very Weak (negligible) |
Salinity | Full (30-40 psu) |
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Habitat Preferences Additional Information | None entered | ||||||||||||||
Distribution References | Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Chambers & Muir, 1997, NBN, 2002, JNCC, 1999, Fordham, 1925, MBA, 1957, Barnich & Fiege, 2000, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data, | ||||||||||||||
Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
Reproductive type | Gonochoristic |
Developmental mechanism | Lecithotrophic |
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Reproductive Season | winter - spring | Reproductive Location | Water column | ||||||||||||
Reproductive frequency | Annual episodic | Regeneration potential | No | ||||||||||||
Life span | 6-10 years | Age at reproductive maturity | 1-2 years | ||||||||||||
Generation time | Insufficient information | Fecundity | |||||||||||||
Egg/propagule size | Fertilization type | External | |||||||||||||
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Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | Little information on the reproduction and development of this species was found. Gametogenesis Aphrodita aculeata is dioecious, i.e. has separate sexes. In females, the ova (eggs), and in males the sperm, develop from the peritoneal sheath of the blood vessels (except the major dorsal and ventral vessels and branches close to the intestine) (Fordham, 1925). The ova and sperm are released into the body cavity (coelum) where the sperm complete their development. Mature females can be identified by 'cream coloured' eggs visible through the thin walls of the parapodia. In mature males the coelum is filled with a milky fluid, i.e. sperm (Fordham, 1925). No spermatophore was observed, although sperm may be arranged in groups of up to four (Fordham, 1925). Presumably large numbers of eggs and sperm are released although no estimate of fecundity was found. Spawning Sperm and ova are shed through the nephridia (the annelid excretory organs) and their nephridiopores on the dorsal surface (Fordham, 1925). Mature males and females were observed at Plymouth in October, when males were seen to spawn, although mature specimens were also collected in March (Fordham, 1925). Fordham (1925) also reported mature individuals in May and spawning in June (location unknown), and mature females in the Naples area in September. Individuals were observed spawning off Rame, Plymouth in November 1923 and mature females were collected in the Plymouth area in September 1930 (MBA, 1957). Thorson (1946) reports spawning in the Naples area in January and February, in aquaria in Naples in March, and mature females in the St Andrews area in May. Overall, Thorson (1946) suggested that spawning occurred in winter and spring. Larval development Larval development is probably but not necessarily similar to related species of Aphroditidae such as Hermonia hystrix and to a lesser degree to members of the Polynoidae such as Harmothoe lunulata (as imbricata). Larval development is lecithotrophic in the Aphroditidae so far studied i.e. Hermonia hystrix (Rouse & Pleijel, 2001). The larva is probably a ciliated, free-swimming trochophore, which develops into a juvenile composed of only a few segments on settlement. The larvae of Hermonia hystrix has a long pelagic phase (von Draschke, 1885 cited in Thorson, 1946). However, although Aphrodite aculeata were very common in the Øresund and, therefore, their larvae were expected to be common in the plankton, none were found in a four year period (Thorson, 1946). Therefore, Thorson (1946) suggested that the larvae of Aphrodite aculeata either had a very short pelagic phase or non-pelagic development. However, no information on the larval development of this species was found. |
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Reproduction References | Fordham, 1925, Thorson, 1946, Schroeder, 1989, Rouse & Pleijel, 2001, MBA, 1957, Schroeder & Hermans, 1975, Julie Bremner, unpub data, |