Biodiversity & Conservation

A polychaete - Chaetozone setosa

Chaetozone setosa

Image Crown copyright - Chaetozone setosa. Image width ca XX cm.
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Distribution map

Chaetozone setosa recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

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Chaetozone setosa is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy Taxon English term
Phylum Annelida Segmented worms e.g. ragworms, tubeworms & fanworms
Class Polychaeta Bristleworms, e.g. ragworms, scaleworms, paddleworms, fanworms and tubeworms
Authority Malmgren, 1867
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland This species can be found around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Chaetozone setosa is common on muddy and gravel bottoms in the shallow sublittoral.
Text page icon Description Chaetozone setosa has a relatively thin cylindrical body that narrows posteriorly. The overall body length is 20-25 mm with 70-90 segments (chaetigers). The head bears a pointed, eyeless prostromium with two extremely long, wrinkled fragile palps on the first segment. Typically grey, brownish or bluish-black in colour. Long finger-like gills are present along the initial half of the body from the first segment. At the posterior end of the body, stout pointed chaetea form transverse series latterally. Toward the end of the body the chaetae increase in number and almost encircle the entire segment.
Identifying features
  • Cylindrical body with 70-90 segments (chaetigers).
  • Body length 20-25 mm.
  • Head bears pointed, eyeless prostomium.
  • Stout, pointed chaetae towards the end of the body; latter chaetae almost encircle the entire segment.
  • Gills on at least 20 initial segments.
Additional information icon Additional information This species is a sedentary worm feeding on detritus using its long, wrinkled fragile palps. There are several species confused under this name in UK waters (Howson & Picton, 1997).

This review can be cited as follows:

Sonia Rowley 2006. Chaetozone setosa. A polychaete. 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/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2950>