Biodiversity & Conservation

A bristleworm - Protula tubularia

Protula tubularia

Image Keith Hiscock - Protula tubularia on the wreck of the Rosehill in Whitsand Bay, Cornwall. Image width ca 7 cm.
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Distribution map

Protula tubularia 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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Protula tubularia 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 (Montagu, 1803)
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland Protula tubularia is widespread across the southern and western coasts of Britain and Ireland.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Protula tubularia forms white, calcareous tubes on hard substratum such as stones and rocks in the lower shore and sublittoral zones to depths of 100 m.
Text page icon Description Protula tubularia forms a white, calcareous tube lacking distinct growth rings in which it lives. It has a small, elongated, segmented body that tapers towards the posterior and grows to 0.3-0.5 cm in length. The body is divided into a head, a short, green, anterior region of eight segments and a much longer reddish-orange, posterior region of up to 90-120 segments. The head is reduced and has two gill lobes each bearing 20-45 white or pinkish, slightly spiralled tentacles that are pinnate in two rows and marked with paired red blotches and numerous eyespots. The head is surrounded by a collar that bears finely toothed chaetae and extends dorsally to a distinctive, large, lobed membrane either side of the thorax. Chaetae are present on all segments except the first. Chaetae in the thoracic region are pale golden, long and slender and display narrow wings. Those in the posterior region are longer but lack narrow wings.

Protula tubularia lack the distinctive stalked operculum that is characteristic of Serpula vermicularis.
Identifying features
  • Short white calcareous tube.
  • Small, elongate body tapering narrowly towards the posterior up to 0.3 - 0.5 cm in length.
  • Body is divided into an 8-segmented thorax and a much longer posterior region of 90-120 segments.
  • Thorax is green in colour whereas the posterior region is reddish-orange.
  • Head bears two sets of 20-45 white, pinkish or red slightly spiralled, pinnate tentacles that are marked with paired red blotches.
  • Large, distinctive, lobed membrane either side of thorax.
  • Thoracic chaetae are pale golden yellow colour with narrow-wings that are lacking in the longer chaetae of the posterior region.
Additional information icon Additional information Protula tubularia is often solitary and reproduces throughout June, August and September.

This review can be cited as follows:

Saskiya Richards 2008. Protula tubularia. A bristleworm. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 20/06/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=4214>