Serpulidae

Serpulidae
Temporal range: Wordian–0[1] Middle Permian - present
Spirobranchus giganteus is a species of tubeworm belonging to the Serpulidae family. Note the yellowish cartilaginous operculum extending from the branchial stalk.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Clade: Sedentaria
Order: Sabellida
Family: Serpulidae
Rafinesque, 1815[2]
Genera

See text

The Serpulidae are a family of sessile, tube-building annelid worms in the class Polychaeta. The members of this family differ from other sabellid tube worms in that they have a specialized operculum that blocks the entrance of their tubes when they withdraw into the tubes. In addition, serpulids secrete tubes of calcium carbonate. Serpulids are the most important biomineralizers among annelids. About 300 species in the family Serpulidae are known, all but one of which live in saline waters.[3] The earliest serpulids are known from the Permian (Wordian to late Permian),[1] and possibly the upper Permian south China[4]

The blood of most species of serpulid and sabellid worms contains the oxygen-binding pigment chlorocruorin. This is used to transport oxygen to the tissues. It has an affinity for carbon monoxide which is 570 times as strong as that of the haemoglobin found in human blood.[5]

Empty serpulid shells can sometimes be confused with the shells of a family of marine gastropod mollusks, the Vermetidae or worm snails. The most obvious difference is that serpulid shells are dull inside, whereas the molluscan vermetid shells are shiny inside.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference APPSanfilippoetal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Read G, Fauchald K, eds. (2019). "Serpulidae Rafinesque, 1815". World Polychaeta database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Marifugia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Słowiński, Jakub; Clapham, Matthew; Zatoń, Michał (2024-03-04). "The Upper Permian tubular fossils from South China and their possible affinity to sabellid polychaetes". Historical Biology: 1–7. doi:10.1080/08912963.2024.2324448. ISSN 0891-2963.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cowles was invoked but never defined (see the help page).