PORT PHILLIP BAY


Lugworm 

Abarenicola haswelli Wells, 1963

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 thick and robust. Body colour: pale. Number of body-regions 3. Achaetous posterior end present. 7-9 pairs of wesophageal sacs present. Branchiae branched or in thick tufts, starting anteriorly, starting from 9, 10-13 main stems per branchia. Number of annuli on branchial segments 5. Neuropodia of branchial segments short and widely separated. Number of nephridiopores 6, plain, dorsi-ventral clefts. Notochaetae spinulose.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Annelida
Class:
Polychaeta
Order:
Scolecida
Family:
Arenicolidae
Genus:
Abarenicola
Species:
haswelli

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

No doubt this species occurs more widely in shallow waters in southern Australia although it is not yet widely reported. It is recorded from environmental studies in Port Phillip Bay and from Tasmania.

Habitat

Soft sediments.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Worms › Lugworms

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
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

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, Abarenicola haswelli, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 26 Dec 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/11172

Text: creative commons cc by licence