Biodiversity & Conservation

A bristleworm - Spiophanes bombyx - General information

Spiophanes bombyx

Image Crown copyright - Spiophanes bombyx.
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Distribution map

Spiophanes bombyx recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

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Spiophanes bombyx is not listed under any importance categories.

General information

Key Icon Researched by: Olwen Ager Text page icon Refereed by: Mike Kendall

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy

Phylum Annelida Segmented worms e.g. ragworms, tubeworms & fanworms
Class Polychaeta Bristleworms, e.g. ragworms, scaleworms, paddleworms, fanworms and tubeworms
Map icon Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland Spiophanes bombyx is found off most British coasts.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Spiophanes bombyx is found in clean sand from the low water mark to over 60 m. It may occupy depths down to over 1 km and may penetrate into estuaries.
Text page icon Description Spiophanes bombyx is a small, slender bristleworm (typically 1-2 cm long by 1.5 mm wide). Its body is divided into anywhere from 16-180 chaetae-bearing segments (chaetigers), depending on age. Spiophanes bombyx has two long horns on the front of the prostomium and a stout rearward pointing horn near the rear. Its palps are relatively thick and short, but may be lost during collection. The dorsal lobes of the parapodia are elongated and are often folded back over the posterior surface of the body. Spiophanes bombyx has no gills or anal funnel and may lack eyes or possess four of them arranged in a square. It is bright pink in colour turning greenish brown at the rear end. Spiophanes bombyx inhabits a stiff sandy tube which usually protrudes slightly above the surface.

This review can be cited as follows:

Olwen Ager 2009. Spiophanes bombyx. A bristleworm. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 19/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullreview.php?speciesID=4356>