Chaeta

Not to be confused with the chelae of arthropods, or with the town of Chaetae.
Specimen of the annelid, Lepidonotus oculatus showing its chaetae projecting laterally, with a microscope image of one of its parapodia and chaetae (inset). Museums Victoria specimen.

A chaeta or cheta (from Ancient Greek χαίτη (khaítē) 'crest, mane, flowing hair'; pl. chaetae) is a chitinous bristle or seta found on annelid worms, although the term is also frequently used to describe similar structures in other invertebrates such as arthropods. Polychaete annelids (polychaeta literally meaning "many bristles") are named for their chaetae. In Polychaeta, chaetae are found as bundles on the parapodia, paired appendages on the side of the body.[1] The chaetae are epidermal, extracellular structures, and clearly visible in most polychaetes. They are probably the best-studied structures in these animals.[2] Segments bearing chaetae are called chaetigers.[3]

  1. ^ Hutchings, P. A.; Fauchald, K. (2000). Polychaetes and Allies: the Southern Synthesis - Class Polychaeata: Definition and General Description. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing. pp. 1–3.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hausen2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Chaetiger". Collins Dictionary.