| |
Arctonoe vittata (Red banded commensal scaleworm)
Copyright ©
2005 Mary Jo Adams
This
scaleworm lives commensally with a number of host species including
the rough keyhole limpet (Diodora aspera ), the gumboot
chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri ), and nine species of sea
stars. It may also be free living. The maximum length
of Arctonoe vittata is about 4 inches but most are smaller.
It is cream colored with a red-brown strip across segments
7 and 8. The scaleworm has at least 30 pairs of elytra (scales)
that do not overlap as they do in most local scaleworms, but instead
leave a gap running down the dorsum of the worm for the entire length
of the body. These animals feed on detritus.
A
related species, Arctonoe fragilis also lives on sea stars
in local waters. It lacks the stripe on segments 7-8 and
the elytra are folded or ruffled. Color varies in this species.
Scaleworms
are marine segmented worms belonging to the class Polychaeta.
This page was created by Mary Jo Adams on 12/3/05.
|
|
Additional information
on this species may be found as follows:
Seashore
Life of the Northern Pacific Coast; An Illustrated Guide to Northern
California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia by Eugene
N. Kozloff. University of Washington Press, 1993.
Southeast
Alaska's Rocky Shores: Animals by Rita M. O'Clair and Charles
E. O'Clair. Plant Press, 1998.
|
|
