BIOTIC Species Information for Marphysa spp.
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| Researched by | Sean Lindsley-Leake | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Marphysa spp. | Common name | A polychaete worm | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | P563 | Recent Synonyms | |||||||||||||
| Phylum | Annelida | Subphylum | |||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Polychaeta | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Eunicida | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Eunicidae | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Marphysa | Species | |||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | |||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Feeding method | ||||||||||||||
| Mobility/Movement | Burrower |
Environmental position | |||||||||||||
| Typical food types | Habit | Burrow dwelling | |||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | |||||||||||||
| Fragility | Intermediate | Size | Medium-large(21-50cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | not relevant | Growth Rate | |||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | Dependency | ||||||||||||||
| Sociability | Solitary | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Biology References | Calacademy website, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | |||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | |||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Depth range | ||||||||||||||
| Migratory | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Physiographic preferences | ||||||||||||||
| Biological zone | Wave exposure | ||||||||||||||
| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Salinity | ||||||||||||||
| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | |||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Permanent hermaphrodite |
Developmental mechanism | Lecithotrophic |
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| Reproductive Season | March | Reproductive Location | Adult burrow | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Annual episodic | Regeneration potential | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Life span | Insufficient information | Age at reproductive maturity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | Insufficient information | Fecundity | 8500-24,300 | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | 300-320 µm | Fertilization type | External | ||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | M. sanguinea's pelagic stage is reduced to just a few hours. In this species, in fact, the trochophore is driven by a strong positive phototrophism to leave their parents’ burrow and seek the surface of the water, where they complete their larval development. Development up to the nectochaete with four setigerous segments proceeds using the yolk contained in the egg as a food resource; indeed, only when four segments have developed is the masticator apparatus perfectly formed and fully functional and the intestine canalized. Up to this stage, the larvae produce a sticky substance that anchors them to the substrate and prevents them from being swept in the open sea by the action of the tide. From this stage onwards, their greater mobility enables them to incorporate particles of sediment into the mucilaginous substance, and they begin to build themselves a tube inside which they live. | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Calacademy website, Prevedelli & Simonini, 2003, | ||||||||||||||
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