BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Scoloplos armiger

Researched by

Lizzie Tyler

Data supplied by

University of Sheffield

Refereed by

This information is not refereed.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Scoloplos armiger

Common name

A polychaete worm

MCS Code

P672

Recent Synonyms

None

Phylum

Annelida

Subphylum

Superclass

Class

Polychaeta

Subclass

Order

Orbiniida

Suborder

Family

Orbiniidae

Genus

Scoloplos

Species

armiger

Subspecies

Additional Information

None entered

Taxonomy References

Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Fauchald, 1977,

General Biology

Growth form

Vermiform segmented

Feeding method

Surface deposit feeder
Sub-surface deposit feeder

Mobility/Movement

Burrower

Environmental position

Infaunal

Typical food types

Insufficient information

Habit

Burrow dwelling

Bioturbator

Diffusive mixing

Flexibility

High (>45 degrees)

Fragility

Fragile

Size

Medium(11-20 cm)

Height

Not relevant

Growth Rate

Insufficient information

Adult dispersal potential

100-1000m

Dependency

Independent

Sociability

Solitary

Toxic/Poisonous?

General Biology Additional Information

Gibbs (1968) described the worm as 'extremely fragile'. Up to 12 cm in length (Fish & Fish, 1996). Worms roam through burrow system down to 15 cm depth. Do not usually appear at sediment surface (Kruse et al., 2004).

Biology References

Kruse et al., 2003, Kruse et al., 2004, Gibbs, 1968, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data,

Distribution and Habitat

Distribution in Britain & Ireland

Widely distributed in NW Europe and Britain on lower shore and in sublittoral (Fish & Fish, 1996),

Global distribution

Found from the Arctic and north west Europe to the Indian Ocean, the Pacific and the Antarctic.

Biogeographic range

Not researched

Depth range

Migratory

Non-migratory / Resident

Distribution Additional Information

None entered

Substratum preferences

Coarse clean sand
Fine clean sand
Muddy sand

Physiographic preferences

Biological zone

Wave exposure

Tidal stream strength/Water flow

Salinity

Habitat Preferences Additional Information

None entered

Distribution References

Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Rasmussen, 1973, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data,

Reproduction/Life History

Reproductive type

Gonochoristic

Developmental mechanism

Lecithotrophic
Direct Development

Reproductive Season

Insufficient information

Reproductive Location

See additional information

Reproductive frequency

Annual episodic

Regeneration potential

Life span

3-5 years

Age at reproductive maturity

1-2 years

Generation time

Insufficient information

Fecundity

Egg/propagule size

Fertilization type

Insufficient information

Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential	See additional information	Larval settlement period	Insufficient information
Duration of larval stage	11-30 days

Reproduction Preferences Additional Information

Two types of development reported. A holobenthic type that crawls out from a cocoon fixed on the substrate and burrows immediately, usually associated with intertidal populations in North Sea region and adjacent waters and a pelagic larvae associated with subtidal populations (Kruse et al., 2003; Kruse et al., 2004). In Isle of Sylt, North Sea, egg cocoons found on intertidal flats between Feb-April (Kruse et al., 2004). Spawning varies with location. In North Sea, main spawn March, secondary (pelagic) spawn from offshore in Oct (Kruse et al., 2004). At Whitstable, spawned four times in one year, main late Feb-April (Gibbs, 1968). 600-1920 / m² Oosterschelde (Coosen et al., 1994), 800 / m² at Whitstable (Gibbs, 1968).

Reproduction References

Kruse et al., 2003, Kruse et al., 2004, Coosen et al., 1994, Gibbs, 1968, Eckert, 2003, Julie Bremner, unpub data, Bartolomaeus, 1998,