PORT PHILLIP BAY


Ragworm 

Ceratocephale setosa Hutchings & Reid, 1990

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.
Oral ring papillae solitary; 8-10 papillae present in total. Area V: 3 papillae; VI papillae absent; VII-VIII a single row. 5-7 papillae. Transverse dorsal lamellae present; commencing chaetiger 10 (continuing to at least chaetiger 20). Ventral cirri paired, commencing chaetiger 3. Notopodial homogomph falcigers absent. Neuropodial dorsal fascicle fused falcigers absent.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Annelida
Class:
Polychaeta
Order:
Phyllodocida
Family:
Nereididae
Genus:
Ceratocephale
Species:
setosa

General Description

In members of this genus the eversible pharynx has papillae only (hard paragnaths are absent). This species can be distinguished from similar southern Australian species in having transverse dorsal lamellae on chaetigers 10 to about 20 and paired ventral cirri from chaetiger 3. Body up to about 2 cm long.

Biology

Sometimes found in estuaries but more often in fully marine conditions in coastal waters.

Habitat

Port Phillip Bay and other coastal bays.

Seagrass meadows

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Worms › Ragworms

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

2 cm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Species Code

MoV 1087

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, Ceratocephale setosa, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 27 Jul 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7430

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