BIOTIC Species Information for Mediomastus fragilis
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| Researched by | Charlotte Marshall | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed. | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Mediomastus fragilis | Common name | A bristleworm | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | P919 | Recent Synonyms | |||||||||||||
| Phylum | Annelida | Subphylum | |||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Polychaeta | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Capitellida | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Capitellidae | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Mediomastus | Species | fragilis | ||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | None entered | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | |||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Vermiform segmented |
Feeding method | Sub-surface deposit feeder |
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| Mobility/Movement | Burrower |
Environmental position | Epibenthic |
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| Typical food types | Insufficient information | Habit | Tubiculous | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Not researched | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | ||||||||||||
| Fragility | Fragile | Size | Small-medium(3-10cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | Insufficient information | Growth Rate | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | 100-1000m | Dependency | Independent | ||||||||||||
| Sociability | Solitary | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | Lives in permanent vertical sandy tubes (Rasmussen, 1973). Up to 10 cm long (Hayward & Ryland, 1995b). Rasmussen (1973) noted that the species has little ability to migrate. | ||||||||||||||
| Biology References | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | North Sea & English Channel (Hayward & Ryland, 1995b). | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | NE Atlantic & Med (Hayward & Ryland, 1995b). | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Not researched | Depth range | Lower shore to shallow sublittoral. | ||||||||||||
| Migratory | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Muddy gravel Sandy mud Muddy sand Mud |
Physiographic preferences | |||||||||||||
| Biological zone | Wave exposure | ||||||||||||||
| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Salinity | ||||||||||||||
| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | Hansen, 1993, Rasmussen, 1973, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Developmental mechanism | Planktotrophic |
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| Reproductive Season | Reproductive Location | ||||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Annual episodic | Regeneration potential | No | ||||||||||||
| Life span | Insufficient information | Age at reproductive maturity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | Insufficient information | Fecundity | |||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | Fertilization type | ||||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | Egg masses attached to sediment with mucous threads in lab (Hansen, 1993). Restricted spawning period at start of April (Rasmussen, 1973). | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Hansen, 1993, Rasmussen, 1973, Warren, 1979, | ||||||||||||||
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