Ficopomatus enigmaticus
| Ficopomatus enigmaticus | |
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| Australian tubeworm colony | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Class: | Polychaeta |
| Order: | Canalipalpata |
| Family: | Serpulidae |
| Genus: | Ficopomatus |
| Species: | F. enigmaticus |
| Binomial name | |
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Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Fauvel, 1923) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Ficopomatus enigmaticus, commonly known as the Australian tubeworm, is a species of serpulid tubeworms. Their true native range is unknown, but they probably originated in the Southern Hemisphere, perhaps from the Indian Ocean and the coastal waters of Australia. Today they have a cosmopolitan distribution, having been introduced to shallow waters worldwide. The Australian tubeworm is an invasive species that dominates and alters habitats, reduces water quality, depletes resources, and causes biofouling.
Ficopomatus enigmaticus is classified in the genus Ficopomatus in the family Serpulidae. They are polychaetes belonging to the order Canalipalpata, the bristle-footed or fan-head worms. The species was first described by the French zoologist Pierre Fauvel in 1923 as Mercierella enigmatica.
Australian tubeworms are usually about 2 to 2.5 cm (0.79 to 0.98 in) long, and up to 4 cm (1.6 in) at times. On the front end are up to 20 branching gill plumes, which are gray, green, or brown in color. The worms secrete a calcareous tube around themselves, which reaches up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long by 2 cm (0.79 in) wide. The tubes are white and turn brown with age. They are flared at the opening and has flaring rings along their lengths. The mouth can be sealed with a spiny covering (the operculum).
Australian tubeworms always live colonially, with many tubes growing together to form small clusters or large reefs. The aggregations are very dense. There can be up to 180,000 worms per square meter of reef, with the tube openings just about a millimeter apart. The tubes stick together with layers of tiny crystals. The tubes may weave together, and as new worms settle on the outer surface, the reef becomes a solid mass. Reefs of worms can be over 7 m (23 ft) long. When the invasion of Lake of Tunis in Tunisia was at its most severe, the total reef mass of the lagoon was thought to contain about 540,000 tons of carbonate. In shallow water, a reef can be circular in shape as new worms settle along the outer edges. Neighboring reefs may join together to make platforms. In a current, the reef can be elongated.
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Wikipedia