PORT PHILLIP BAY


Ragworm 

Micronereis halei Hartman, 1954

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Family level description.
Nereididae are polychaetes with many uniform segments, without strongly differentiated body regions. The prostomium (head) has one pair of antennae, one pair of articulated palps, and two pairs of eyes. Four pairs of unjointed cirri emerge from the next segment behind the prostomium. Mouthparts comprise an eversible pharynx with one pair of terminal jaws, although these are usually only visible by dissection.

Species level technical description.
Prostomium with entire anterior margin. Longest tentacular cirri extend back to chaetiger 3. Maxillary ring not divided into discrete Areas. Transverse dorsal lamellae absent. Prechaetal notopodial lobe absent. Dorsal cirrus length about 1. 5-2 times ventral notopodial ligule at chaetiger 10-20. Neuropodial postchaetal lobe absent. Ventral cirri single. Notopodial homogomph spinigers present; sesquigomph spinigers absent. Notopodial homogomph falcigers present (in males only). Notopodial homogomph falcigers articulated throughout. Notopodial homogomph falcigers multidentate, with 2 or more small lateral teeth, first and subsequent lateral teeth much smaller than terminal tooth. Neuropodial dorsal fascicle fused falcigers absent.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Annelida
Class:
Polychaeta
Order:
Phyllodocida
Family:
Nereididae
Genus:
Micronereis
Species:
halei

General Description

In members of this genus unlike all other Nereididae the antennae are absent and the palps are conical and lack palpostyles. The maxillary ring of the pharynx is not divided into discrete Areas. The dorsal notopodial ligule is absent throughout and the dorsal cirrus is present on an enlarged cirrophore. This species can be distinguished easily using the generic characters - Micronereis halei is the only member of this genus occurring in southern Australia. Body up to about 1 cm long.

Biology

Micronereis halei is a minute species that is only known from a few specimens. Only a single specimen has been collected in Port Phillip Bay, despite a vast amount of sampling there.

Habitat

Coastal bays.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Worms › Ragworms

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

1 cm

Commercial Species

No

Species Code

MoV 1096

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, Ragworm, Micronereis halei, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 11 Sep 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7530

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