ID please, NOT fireworm
- Thread starter mr_bill
- Start date
mr_bill
Active Member
Thank you Bang Guy!
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
It's the reproductive stage of an algae eating type of Bristleworm. It's called an Epitoke. The entire body of this type of worm turnes into gametes. The worm will swim vigerously until it reaches the water surface where it will explode into a mass of worm larvae to be scattered around by the current.
Well, no exploding for this guy in my tank. If the mods would like to use my picture in the hitchhiker thread they are more than welcome.
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
It's the reproductive stage of an algae eating type of Bristleworm. It's called an Epitoke. The entire body of this type of worm turnes into gametes. The worm will swim vigerously until it reaches the water surface where it will explode into a mass of worm larvae to be scattered around by the current.
Well, no exploding for this guy in my tank. If the mods would like to use my picture in the hitchhiker thread they are more than welcome.
mr_bill
Active Member
Amazing..
epitoky: a portion of the bristleworm becomes packed with eggs or sperm and becomes highly specialised for swimming, some even developing eyes! This portion is called the epitoke. At mating time, the epitoke breaks off from the main worm and can move about on its own. Swimming to the surface, it is joined by the epitokes of other bristleworms. At the surface, the epitokes burst apart, releasing eggs and sperm for external fertilisation. In this way, the worms can reproduce without exposing the rest of their bodies to danger. However, while an epitoke might be a new segment produced by the animal, sometimes the entire animal is remodelled into an epitoke and rips itself apart during mating. Mating is usually triggered by the lunar cycle.
epitoky: a portion of the bristleworm becomes packed with eggs or sperm and becomes highly specialised for swimming, some even developing eyes! This portion is called the epitoke. At mating time, the epitoke breaks off from the main worm and can move about on its own. Swimming to the surface, it is joined by the epitokes of other bristleworms. At the surface, the epitokes burst apart, releasing eggs and sperm for external fertilisation. In this way, the worms can reproduce without exposing the rest of their bodies to danger. However, while an epitoke might be a new segment produced by the animal, sometimes the entire animal is remodelled into an epitoke and rips itself apart during mating. Mating is usually triggered by the lunar cycle.
mr_bill
Active Member
Originally Posted by fishmamma
Who knew? Very interesting and if you ask me the whole bit should be added to the ID section.
It sure didn't look like any bristle/fire worm I had ever seen. If Bang Guy didn't point me in the right direction I'd have some restless nights, thats for sure. Mine actually had a head with eyes, and when I attempted to catch it the first time it tried to get away.
Who knew? Very interesting and if you ask me the whole bit should be added to the ID section.
It sure didn't look like any bristle/fire worm I had ever seen. If Bang Guy didn't point me in the right direction I'd have some restless nights, thats for sure. Mine actually had a head with eyes, and when I attempted to catch it the first time it tried to get away.
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by Mr_Bill
I was pretty facinated by what I've found on the web today.
Also known as palolo,
"The rich taste of palolo is enjoyed raw or fried with butter, onions or eggs, or spread on toast. "
The Worm in the picture is NOT a Palolo Worm. Do not try to eat them.
Keep in mind there are over 10,000 species of Bristle Worms and their reproductive strategy varies greatly from eggs, Fission, the the subject of this thread which converts its entire body to gametes.
mr_bill
Active Member
I've found the adults on the edge of my substrate. They are not the same color as the bristle/fire worms I have seen and they do not appear to have the bristles that surround the body like the common bristle/fire worm has. They make tunnels that seem to be coated with some kind of residue.
The palolo worms reproduce in the same manner, and the epitoke of the palolo worm is what some of these islanders are known to eat. I saw some pictures and they were alot larger and a brownish color.
The palolo worms reproduce in the same manner, and the epitoke of the palolo worm is what some of these islanders are known to eat. I saw some pictures and they were alot larger and a brownish color.