Biodiversity & Conservation

General Information

A bristleworm - Polydora ciliata - General information

Image Keith Hiscock - Polydora ciliata. Image width ca XX cm.
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Polydora ciliata recorded () and expected () distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

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Polydora ciliata is not listed under any importance categories.

General information

Researched by:	Jacqueline Hill	Refereed by:	This information is not refereed.

Taxonomy

Phylum	Annelida	Segmented worms e.g. ragworms, tubeworms & fanworms
Class	Polychaeta	Bristleworms, e.g. ragworms, scaleworms, paddleworms, fanworms and tubeworms

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland	Polydora ciliata is widely distributed around Britain and Ireland.
Habitat information	Polydora ciliata usually burrows into substrata containing calcium carbonate such as limestone and chalk and into clay as well as the shells of oysters, mussels and periwinkles and crusts of calcareous algae ('lithothamnia'). The species is also found in muddy sediments, wood and laminarian holdfasts.
Description	A sedentary, burrowing polychaete worm up to 3 cm long and 0.7-1 cm wide. The body has up to 180 segments but is not divided into distinct regions. Polydora ciliata has two very long, slender ciliated palps which protrude, waving vigorously and usually roll up spirally when the animal is disturbed. The tip of the posterior region is saucer shaped. Polydora ciliata is yellowish-brown in colour.

This review can be cited as follows:

Jacqueline Hill 2007. Polydora ciliata. A bristleworm. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 23/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullreview.php?speciesID=4165>

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