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Title: Worms On Sponge. Egypt
Filename: RS09_am-13287.jpg
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Spionid worms (Polydorella sp.) living on the surface of a sponge (Pione sp.). Gubal Island, Egypt. Red Sea. Likely identification is Poldorella smurovi or a similar undescribed species. Below is comment from researcher: Living animals of P. smurovi have white palps (the paired appendages at the head) and orange bodies; they build thin mucous tubes on the surface of the sponge; an illustration in the original description shows dark pigment on the prostomium (the median part of the head) and lateral stripes on the first 3 setigers. The animals in this pictures differ by having very obvious lateral stripes on the whole body and the tubes appear to have attached bits of sand or debris. Without specimens to examine I can't tell if the differences are intra- or interspecific. The genus is very interesting as the life cycle includes alternation of sexual and asexual reproduction. Even more interesting, the mode of asexual reproduction is paratomy, in which the growth zone producing the new individual is in the middle of the animal rather than at the posterior end or sides (this seems to be visible in this photo - with new individuals seeming to grow out of the rear of some of the longer worms).
- Abu Nuhas
- Alexander Mustard
- amustard.com
- coral reef
- Egypt
- Gubal Island
- macro
- Polydorella sp.
- Red Sea
- Sinai
- spionid worms
- sub-tropical
- © Alexander Mustard