Aspidosiphon elegans is a species of unsegmented benthic marine worm in the phylum Sipuncula, the peanut worms. It is a bioeroding species and burrows into limestone rocks, stones and corals. It occurs in the western Indo-Pacific region, the Red Sea, and the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, and is invasive in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Aspidosiphon elegans can grow up to 80 mm (3 in) in length, but 25 mm (1.0 in) is a more usual size. The introvert is at least as long as the trunk and both are smooth and white. The tip of the introvert bears the oral disc with the mouth and six to twelve short tentacles. The distal part of the introvert bears rings of two-pronged hooks while the proximal part bears scattered, dark-coloured conical hooks. The anal shield is ungrooved while the caudal shield is poorly developed and paler in colour than the anal shield. There are a pair of light-sensitive eye spots and a pair of nephridia.[2][3]
Distribution and habitatedit
This peanut worm is found in shallow waters in the northwestern Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, and the Levantine Sea, having arrived there at the latest by 1957 after the opening of the Suez Canal.[3] It also occurs on the Atlantic coast of Central America, but not on the Pacific coast.[4] It is a bioeroding organism and burrows into limestone rocks and stones, as well as coral heads, coralline algae and the shells of bivalve molluscs.[2]
Ecologyedit
In the Mediterranean Sea, this species was found burrowing in calcareous rocks, in coralline algae (Corallina mediterranea) and in the mussel (Brachidontes pharaonis),[3] another organism that has invaded the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.[5] In this locality, there were said to be 25 individuals per square metre.[3]
Reproduction in this species is by transverse fission; a constriction appears at the posterior end of the trunk, gradually deepening until the part becomes detached, with regeneration of the main body components then following.[3][6]
Referencesedit
^ abSaiz-Salinas, José (2009). "Aspidosiphon (Aspidosiphon) elegans (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
^ abFerreiro-Vicente, Luis M.; Saiz-Salinas, José I.; Açik, Sermin; Sánchez-Lizaso, José L. (2016). Guide to the Mediterranean sipunculans. Universidad de Alicante. pp. 31–33. ISBN978-84-9717-434-3.
^ abcdeAçik, Sermin (2008). (PDF). Turkish Journal of Zoology. 32 (4): 443–448. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-12.
^Cutler, Edward B. (2018). The Sipuncula: Their Systematics, Biology, and Evolution. Cornell University Press. p. 370. ISBN978-1-5017-2364-3.
^"Brachidontes pharaonis". The Invasive Species Compendium. cabi.org. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
^Rice, Mary E.; Pilger, John F. (1988). "Sipuncula" (PDF). Retrieved 6 February 2019.
May 10, 2024
aspidosiphon, elegans, species, unsegmented, benthic, marine, worm, phylum, sipuncula, peanut, worms, bioeroding, species, burrows, into, limestone, rocks, stones, corals, occurs, western, indo, pacific, region, tropical, western, atlantic, ocean, invasive, ea. Aspidosiphon elegans is a species of unsegmented benthic marine worm in the phylum Sipuncula the peanut worms It is a bioeroding species and burrows into limestone rocks stones and corals It occurs in the western Indo Pacific region the Red Sea and the tropical western Atlantic Ocean and is invasive in the eastern Mediterranean Sea Aspidosiphon elegans Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Annelida Class Sipuncula Order Aspidosiphonida Family Aspidosiphonidae Genus Aspidosiphon Species A elegans Binomial name Aspidosiphon elegans Chamisso amp Eysenhardt 1821 1 Synonyms 1 Aspidosiphon brockiAugener 1903 Aspidosiphon carolinusSato 1935 Aspidosiphon elegans Chamisso amp Eysenhardt 1821 Aspidosiphon exilisSluiter 1886 Aspidosiphon homomyariumJohnson 1965 Aspidosiphon ravusSluiter 1886 Aspidosiphon spinalisIkeda 1904 Aspidosiphon spinosusSluiter 1902 Loxosiphon elegans Chamisso amp Eysenhardt 1821 Phascolosoma elegans Chamisso amp Eysenhardt 1821 Sipunculus elegans Chamisso amp Eysenhardt 1821 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 ReferencesDescription editAspidosiphon elegans can grow up to 80 mm 3 in in length but 25 mm 1 0 in is a more usual size The introvert is at least as long as the trunk and both are smooth and white The tip of the introvert bears the oral disc with the mouth and six to twelve short tentacles The distal part of the introvert bears rings of two pronged hooks while the proximal part bears scattered dark coloured conical hooks The anal shield is ungrooved while the caudal shield is poorly developed and paler in colour than the anal shield There are a pair of light sensitive eye spots and a pair of nephridia 2 3 Distribution and habitat editThis peanut worm is found in shallow waters in the northwestern Indian Ocean and the Red Sea and the Levantine Sea having arrived there at the latest by 1957 after the opening of the Suez Canal 3 It also occurs on the Atlantic coast of Central America but not on the Pacific coast 4 It is a bioeroding organism and burrows into limestone rocks and stones as well as coral heads coralline algae and the shells of bivalve molluscs 2 Ecology editIn the Mediterranean Sea this species was found burrowing in calcareous rocks in coralline algae Corallina mediterranea and in the mussel Brachidontes pharaonis 3 another organism that has invaded the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal 5 In this locality there were said to be 25 individuals per square metre 3 Reproduction in this species is by transverse fission a constriction appears at the posterior end of the trunk gradually deepening until the part becomes detached with regeneration of the main body components then following 3 6 References edit a b Saiz Salinas Jose 2009 Aspidosiphon Aspidosiphon elegans Chamisso amp Eysenhardt 1821 WoRMS World Register of Marine Species Retrieved 6 February 2019 a b Ferreiro Vicente Luis M Saiz Salinas Jose I Acik Sermin Sanchez Lizaso Jose L 2016 Guide to the Mediterranean sipunculans Universidad de Alicante pp 31 33 ISBN 978 84 9717 434 3 a b c d e Acik Sermin 2008 Occurrence of the Alien Species Aspidosiphon Aspidosiphon elegans Sipuncula on the Levantine and Aegean Coasts of Turkey PDF Turkish Journal of Zoology 32 4 443 448 Archived from the original PDF on 2017 08 12 Cutler Edward B 2018 The Sipuncula Their Systematics Biology and Evolution Cornell University Press p 370 ISBN 978 1 5017 2364 3 Brachidontes pharaonis The Invasive Species Compendium cabi org Retrieved 7 February 2019 Rice Mary E Pilger John F 1988 Sipuncula PDF Retrieved 6 February 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aspidosiphon elegans amp oldid 1036825258, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
