Department of Zoology at ANDC/Zoology Museum/Museum specimens/Annelida/Chaetopterus

=Chaetopterus=



Systematic Postion
Phylum: Annelida

Class: Polychaeta

Genus: Chaetopterus

Common Name: Paddle worm

Distribution
Worldwide distribtion, mainly found in Europe, and U.S.A.

Habit and habitat
Tubicolous, lives in U-shaped tubes.

Food
small organisms,true filter feeders.

Identifying features

 * Body is delicate consisting of highly modified segments.


 * Body color is white.


 * Length is approximately 15-35 cm.


 * Body is divided into an anterior region, middle region and a posterior region.


 * Anterior region consists of 15-20 segments parapodia, prostomium, peristomial collar(cirri and mouth). It lacks the tentacles and palps.


 * Middle region consists of five segments:


 * 1) anterior most, produced into great wings.
 * 2) a pair of sucker.
 * 3) have fans(fused notopodia).


 * Posterior region consists of 11-30 similar segments without setae.It is more longer than anterior and posterior regions. Each segment consists of a pair of parapodia.


 * Parapodia are modified accordingly to their function. They are modified into pumping fans, sucking discs and food ball organs.


 * Notopodia are greatly reduced in Chaetopterus. But the 10th segment contains a wing like notopodia and collect food with the help of this notopodia.


 * It is an animal having great power of regeneration.


 * Asexual reproduction by transverse fission.