BIOTIC Species Information for Lanice conchilega
| |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Researched by | Lizzie Tyler | Data supplied by | University of Sheffield | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed. | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Lanice conchilega | Common name | Sand mason | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | P1195 | Recent Synonyms | None | ||||||||||||
| Phylum | Annelida | Subphylum | |||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Polychaeta | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Terebellida | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Amphitritinae | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Lanice | Species | conchilega | ||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | No text entered | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996, | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Tubicolous Vermiform segmented |
Feeding method | Passive suspension feeder Active suspension feeder Surface deposit feeder Sub-surface deposit feeder |
||||||||||||
| Mobility/Movement | Swimmer Crawler Burrower |
Environmental position | Infaunal |
||||||||||||
| Typical food types | Detritus | Habit | Tubiculous | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Not researched | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | ||||||||||||
| Fragility | Fragile | Size | Medium-large(21-50cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | Insufficient information | Growth Rate | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | 100-1000m | Dependency | Independent | ||||||||||||
| Sociability | Solitary | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | Sociability
Lanice conchilega can be found as a solitary individual or in populations of several thousand per m2. Feeding Buhr & Winter (1977) suggested that Lanice conchilega is unlikely to be just a surface deposit feeder as the fringed ends of its tube form an extensive network meaning that detritus will be trapped in the fringe. They suggest that feeding method is density dependant. At low densities (several dozen individuals per m2) Lanice conchilega will preferentially deposit feed. At high densities (several thousand individuals per m2) competition at the sediment surface will force animals to adopt suspension feeding. |
||||||||||||||
| Biology References | Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996, Buhr & Winter, 1977, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Heidi Tillin, unpub data, Julie Bremner, unpub data, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | Lanice conchilega is found around all coasts of Britain and Ireland. | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | Lanice conchilega is found from the Arctic to the Mediterranean, in the Arabian Gulf and the Pacific. | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Not researched | Depth range | |||||||||||||
| Migratory | Non-migratory / Resident | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | Hartmann-Shröder (1971; cited in Carey, 1987) reported that Lanice conchilega was found from the low water neap tide mark down to 1700m. | ||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Coarse clean sand Sandy mud Fine clean sand Muddy sand |
Physiographic preferences | Open coast Offshore seabed Strait / sound Estuary Enclosed coast / Embayment |
||||||||||||
| Biological zone | Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral Circalittoral Offshore Bathybenthic (Bathyal) |
Wave exposure | Moderately Exposed Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered |
||||||||||||
| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Strong (3-6 kn) Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn) Very Weak (negligible) |
Salinity | Full (30-40 psu) Variable (18-40 psu) |
||||||||||||
| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | Carey, 1987, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996, Beukema, 1990, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Julie Bremner, unpub data, | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Gonochoristic |
Developmental mechanism | Planktotrophic Lecithotrophic |
||||||||||||
| Reproductive Season | April to October | Reproductive Location | Water column | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Regeneration potential | No | |||||||||||||
| Life span | Insufficient information | Age at reproductive maturity | |||||||||||||
| Generation time | Insufficient information | Fecundity | 160,000 eggs | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | 150 µm diamter | Fertilization type | External | ||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | Reproduction
Adult Lanice conchilega were seen to release gametes over several hours in June 1991 (Ansell, 1995). Kuhl (1972) remarked that the larvae of Lanice conchilega occur from April to October. The larvae spend up to 60 days in the plankton, so that larvae could potentially disperse over a great distance, depending on the hydrographical regime. |
||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Kuhl, 1972, Ansell, 1995, Eckert, 2003, Heidi Tillin, unpub data, Julie Bremner, unpub data, McHugh, 1993, | ||||||||||||||
BIOTIC - Biological Traits Information Catalogue
| About MarLIN | Contact, Enquiries & Feedback | Terms & Conditions | Funding | Glossary | Accessibility | Privacy | Sponsorship |
BIOTIC (Biological Traits Information Catalogue) by MarLIN (Marine Life Information Network) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available at http://www.marlin.ac.uk/termsandconditions. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own terms and conditions and they may or may not be available for reuse. Based on a work at www.marlin.ac.uk.