PORT PHILLIP BAY


Eunicid worm 

Lysidice sp. MoV 312

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Family level description.
Eunicidae are common, widespread and diverse polychaetes characterised by having complex jaws of multiple pairs of maxillae and a pair of ventral mandibles; the anterior end has paired cushion-like structures (actually dorsal lips) and beaded prostomial appendages (antennae + palps) which may be 1, 3 or 5 in total number. Some have prominent comb-like gills on mid-body chaetigers. Dorsal chaetal bundles are absent; ventral bundles have capillaries, acicular hooks, compound hooks, and combs. These are robust, muscular, active, long-lived carnivores or scavengers found in a variety of habitats.

Species level technical description.
Prostomium bilobed, entire. Eyes present. Maxillary formula: I = 1, + 1. II = 4, + 4. III= 4, + 0. IV = 3, + 5. V = 0, + 0 (Maxilla 5 are chitinised plates.). Number of prostomial appendages 3 - presumed to represent one median antenna and a pair of lateral antennae. Prostomial appendages dissimilar in length. Median antenna about equal in length to lateral antennae. Peristomial (tentacular) cirri absent. Branchiae absent. Pectinate chaetae present. Compound (composite) falcigers present. Compound spinigers absent. Aciculae dark honey-coloured to black. Subacicular hooks present, first present from chaetiger 6.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Annelida
Class:
Polychaeta
Order:
Eunicida
Family:
Eunicidae
Genus:
Lysidice

General Description

In members of this genus there are only 3 prostomial appendages. Body up to about 10 cm long.

Biology

Several species of Lysidice occur in southern Australia but they appear to be undescribed.

Habitat

Estuaries, embayments, and continental shelf waters.

Reefs

Soft substrates

Seagrass meadows

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Worms › Eunicid worms

Depth

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

sp. MoV 312

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, Eunicid worm, Lysidice , in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 24 Apr 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7511

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