The name of the genus is taken from Aphrodite, the Ancient Greek goddess of love, said to be because of a supposed resemblance to human female genitalia.[3] The English name may derive from the resemblance to a bedraggled house mouse when washed up on shore.[4]
Description
The body of the sea mouse is covered in a dense mat of parapodia and setae (hairlike structures).[2] Adults generally fall within a size range of 7.5 to 15 centimetres (3.0 to 5.9 in), but some grow to 30 centimetres (12 in). The sea mouse has two pairs of feeler-like appendages close to the mouth and does not have eyes. Locomotion is carried out by several small, bristly, paddle-like appendages. They are hermaphroditic which means that they have functional reproductive organs of both sexes. The eggs of one individual are fertilised by the sperm of another.[5]
The spines, or setae[2] on the scaled back of the sea mouse are a unique feature. Normally, these have a deep red sheen, warning off predators, but when the light shines on them perpendicularly, they flush green and blue, a "remarkable example of photonic engineering by a living organism". This structural coloration is a defense mechanism, giving a warning signal to potential predators. The effect is produced by many hexagonal cylinders within the spines, which "perform much more efficiently than man-made optical fibres".[6]
Feeding
Aphrodita are typically scavengers.[2] However, Aphrodita aculeata is an active predator,[7] feeding primarily on small crabs, hermit crabs and other polychaete worms such as Pectinaria.[7]
^Kennedy, Jennifer (1 October 2019). "Profile of the Sea Mouse Ocean Worm". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
^Warren, Rebecca; van Zyl, Miezan; O'Rourke, Ruth; Tokeley, Amber; Heilman, Christine, eds. (2006). "Ocean Life". Ocean: The World's Last Wilderness Revealed (first American ed.). New York City: DK Publishing. p. 276. ISBN978-0-7566-2205-3.
^"Sea mouse promises bright future". BBC News. BBC. January 3, 2001. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
^ abTyler, Lizzie. "BIOTIC Species Information for Aphrodita aculeata". Biological Traits Information Catalogue. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aphrodita.
August 24, 2023
aphrodita, ancient, greek, goddess, aphrodite, genus, marine, polychaete, worms, found, mediterranean, eastern, western, atlantic, ocean, aculeatascientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, annelidaclade, pleistoannelidasubclass, errant. For the Ancient Greek goddess see Aphrodite Aphrodita is a genus of marine polychaete worms found in the Mediterranean sea and the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean 2 AphroditaAphrodita aculeataScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum AnnelidaClade PleistoannelidaSubclass ErrantiaOrder PhyllodocidaSuborder AphroditiformiaFamily AphroditidaeGenus AphroditaLinnaeus 1758 1 Type speciesAphrodita aculeataLinnaeus 1758SpeciesSee textSeveral members of this genus are known as sea mice Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Structural coloration 4 Feeding 5 Species 6 References 7 External linksEtymology Edit Dorsal view removed from waterThe name of the genus is taken from Aphrodite the Ancient Greek goddess of love said to be because of a supposed resemblance to human female genitalia 3 The English name may derive from the resemblance to a bedraggled house mouse when washed up on shore 4 Description EditThe body of the sea mouse is covered in a dense mat of parapodia and setae hairlike structures 2 Adults generally fall within a size range of 7 5 to 15 centimetres 3 0 to 5 9 in but some grow to 30 centimetres 12 in The sea mouse has two pairs of feeler like appendages close to the mouth and does not have eyes Locomotion is carried out by several small bristly paddle like appendages They are hermaphroditic which means that they have functional reproductive organs of both sexes The eggs of one individual are fertilised by the sperm of another 5 Structural coloration EditFurther information Structural coloration The spines or setae 2 on the scaled back of the sea mouse are a unique feature Normally these have a deep red sheen warning off predators but when the light shines on them perpendicularly they flush green and blue a remarkable example of photonic engineering by a living organism This structural coloration is a defense mechanism giving a warning signal to potential predators The effect is produced by many hexagonal cylinders within the spines which perform much more efficiently than man made optical fibres 6 Feeding EditAphrodita are typically scavengers 2 However Aphrodita aculeata is an active predator 7 feeding primarily on small crabs hermit crabs and other polychaete worms such as Pectinaria 7 Species EditSpecies recognized by the World Register of Marine Species 1 Aphrodita abyssalis Kirkegaard 1996 Aphrodita aculeata Linnaeus 1758 Aphrodita acuminata Ehlers 1887 Aphrodita alta Kinberg 1856 Aphrodita annulata Pennant 1777 Aphrodita aphroditoides McIntosh 1885 Aphrodita armifera Moore 1910 Aphrodita audouini Castelnau 1842 lt small gt Aphrodita australis Baird 1865 Aphrodita bamarookis Hutchings amp McRae 1993 Aphrodita bisetosa Rozbaczylo amp Canahuire 2000 Aphrodita brevitentaculata Essenberg 1917 Aphrodita californica Essenberg 1917 Aphrodita clavigera Freminville 1812 Aphrodita daiyumaruae Imajima 2005 Aphrodita decipiens Horst 1916 Aphrodita defendens Chamberlin 1919 Aphrodita diplops Fauchald 1977 Aphrodita echidna Quatrefages 1866 Aphrodita elliptica Aphrodita falcifera Hartman 1939 Aphrodita goolmarris Hutchings amp McRae 1993 Aphrodita hoptakero Otto in Audouin amp Milne Edwards 1832 Aphrodita japonica Marenzeller 1879 Aphrodita kulmaris Hutchings amp McRae 1993 Aphrodita limosa Horst 1916 Aphrodita longicornis Kinberg 1855 Aphrodita longipalpa Essenberg 1917 Aphrodita macroculata Imajima 2001 Aphrodita magellanica Malard 1891 Aphrodita malayana Horst 1916 Aphrodita malkaris Hutchings amp McRae 1993 Aphrodita maorica Benham 1900 Aphrodita marombis Hutchings amp McRae 1993 Aphrodita mexicana Kudenov 1975 Aphrodita modesta Quatrefages 1866 Aphrodita negligens Moore 1905 Aphrodita nipponensis Imajima 2003 Aphrodita obtecta Ehlers 1887 Aphrodita parva Moore 1905 Aphrodita perarmata Roule 1898 Aphrodita refulgida Moore 1910 Aphrodita rossi Knox amp Cameron 1998 Aphrodita roulei Horst 1917 Aphrodita scolopendra Bruguiere 1789 Aphrodita sericea Castelnau 1842 Aphrodita sibogae Horst 1916 Aphrodita sondaica Grube 1875 Aphrodita sonorae Kudenov 1975 Aphrodita talpa Quatrefages 1866 Aphrodita terraereginae Haswell 1883 Aphrodita tosaensis Imajima 2001 Aphrodita watasei Izuka 1912References Edit a b Fauchald Kristian Bellan Gerard 2008 Aphrodita Linnaeus 1758 World Polychaeta database World Register of Marine Species Retrieved 28 July 2016 a b c d sea mouse Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc Retrieved April 26 2012 Kennedy Jennifer 1 October 2019 Profile of the Sea Mouse Ocean Worm ThoughtCo Retrieved 29 September 2021 Warren Rebecca van Zyl Miezan O Rourke Ruth Tokeley Amber Heilman Christine eds 2006 Ocean Life Ocean The World s Last Wilderness Revealed first American ed New York City DK Publishing p 276 ISBN 978 0 7566 2205 3 Sea Mouse Encyclopaedia Britannica Sea mouse promises bright future BBC News BBC January 3 2001 Retrieved April 26 2012 a b Tyler Lizzie BIOTIC Species Information for Aphrodita aculeata Biological Traits Information Catalogue Retrieved 24 December 2014 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aphrodita Sea Mouse images A Natural Photonic Crystal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aphrodita amp oldid 1140895501, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
