PORT PHILLIP BAY


Bamboo worm 

Petaloproctus Quatrefages, 1865

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Family level description.
Maldanidae are burrowing worms in which the midbody segments are strongly elongate, hence the common name "bamboo worms". The head is a flattened or obliquely truncate sometimes forming a flattened oval at the anterior end (termed a cephalic plaque), often with a marginal raised flange, and lacks appendages. The eversible pharynx lacks hard parts. The pygidium (anal end) frequently has a flower-like structure of variously formed radially-arranged soft lobes. Chaetae include hair-like simple capillaries and hooks with a terminal "beard" of subdistal hairs.

Species level technical description.
Cephalic plaque present. High, well developed; Cephalic rim lacking marginal flange. Nuchal slits long. Nuchal slits straight, parallel. Chaetiger 1 with collar. Distinct membranous collar on anterior margin of chaetiger 4 present. Encircling collars on posterior segments present. First chaetiger with noto- and neurochaetae. Acicular neuropodial spines on anterior chaetigers absent. Present in first 3 chaetigers. Spirally fringed notochaetae present. Rostrate uncini present, present in anterior chaetigers, present as a double row. Pre-anal achaetigerous segment(s) absent. Pygidium well developed, Anus terminal, Anal plaque asymmetrical, strongly reduced dorsally.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Annelida
Class:
Polychaeta
Order:
Scolecida
Family:
Maldanidae
Genus:
Petaloproctus

General Description

In members of this genus the anal plaque is asymmetrical, strongly reduced dorsally. Body up to about 5-10 cm long.

Biology

There has been little taxonomic study of Maldanidae in Australian waters; the family is undoubtedly diverse here and many species remain to be discovered and described. Specimens need to be complete to enable all important characters to be described (fragments are often unidentifiable).

Habitat

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

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Worms › Bamboo worms

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

10 cm

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

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, Bamboo worm, Petaloproctus , in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 21 Sep 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/11171

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