PORT PHILLIP BAY


Phyllodocid worm 

Eumida fuscoculata Eibye-Jacobsen, 1991

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Family level description.
Phyllodocidae are long-bodied predators in which the dorsal cirri are distinctly leaf-like and form long regular rows along each side of the body. They are often strongly pigmented in green or yellow. There is a short ovoid prostomium with two pairs of short anterior appendages (1 pair of palps; 1 pair of antennae); a single median antenna may also be present. The long eversible pharynx lacks jaws or other hard parts but typically has numerous papillae in various distinctive arrangements. Compound long-bladed chaetae are typical, in ventral positions.

Species level technical description.
Eyes superficial or absent. Prostomium without dorsal posterior incision. Dorsal paired antennae broadest basally. Prostomial protuberance well defined. Nuchal organs present as dorsal outgrowths on prostomium. Nuchal organs and cirrophores of first pair of tentacular cirri separate basally. Median antenna present, closest to eyes. Pharynx not divided into 2 regions. Pharyngeal papillae micropapillae, papillae on undivided pharynx sparsely distributed. Anterior segments include at least two fused or reduced segments (i.e. at least one segment apparently with three pairs of tentacular cirri) (segment 1 dorsally reduced, possibly fused to segment 2). Segment 1 and 2 not covering posterior part of prostomium, segment 1 with one pair of tentacular cirri arising immediately posterior to prostomium from the first visible segment after the prostomium. Segment 2 with dorsal tentacular cirri. Ventral tentacular cirri of segment 2 circular in cross-section or flattened. Segment 3 with dorsal cirri, with ventral cirri. Parapodia uniramous (notopodial aciculae absent), Notopodial capillary chaetae absent. Neuropodium of median segments with separate dorsal and ventral prechaetal lobes, dorsal part of neuropodial lobe of median segments rounded and similar in shape to ventral lobe. Ventral cirri of median segments horizontally oriented.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Annelida
Class:
Polychaeta
Order:
Phyllodocida
Family:
Phyllodocidae
Genus:
Eumida
Species:
fuscoculata

General Description

In members of this genus at least two of the anterior segments are fused or reduced, and the papillae on the undivided pharynx are sparsely distributed. A median antenna is present. Body up to about 5-10 cm long.

Biology

Often found in algal turfs and among mussels.

Habitat

Port Phillip Bay and other similar coastal habitat, inshore and continental shelf.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Worms › Phyllodocid worms

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

10 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 510

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, Phyllodocid worm, Eumida fuscoculata, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7459

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