PORT PHILLIP BAY


Lugworm 

Branchiomaldane sp. 1

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Family level description.
Typical members of the Arenicolidae have characteristic robust bodies divided into 3 sections: thorax with eversible proboscis; middle section with large branched tufted branchiae from chaetiger 7; posterior trunk with no chaetae. The epidermis is thick and rugose crenulate.

Species level technical description.
Body slender. Body lacking pigment. Number of body-regions 2. Achaetous posterior end absent. Oesophageal sac absent. Branchiae simple, starting posteriorly, starting from 18; thick simple filaments arranged with a maximum of 2 or 3 in a tuft. Number of annuli on branchial segments 2. Neuropodia of branchial segments short and widely separated. Notochaetae smooth.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Annelida
Class:
Polychaeta
Order:
Scolecida
Family:
Arenicolidae
Genus:
Branchiomaldane

General Description

Members of this genus have simple tapering branchiae which appear at chaetiger 18. There is only one known species with this characteristic in the Port Phillip Bay region. Body up to about 1 cm long.

Biology

Little is known of this species, which is so far only recorded from environmental studies in Port Phillip Bay.

Habitat

Coastal embayments.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Port Phillip in Victoria.

Species Group

Worms › Lugworms

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

1 cm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Species Code

sp. 1

Identify

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Wilson, R.

Robin Wilson is a Senior Curator of marine invertebrates at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Wilson, R., 2011, Lugworm, Branchiomaldane , in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7416

Text: creative commons cc by licence