Serpula

For the fungi genus, see Serpula (fungus).

Serpula
Temporal range: Cretaceous – Recent
Calcareous tubeworm, Serpula vermicularis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Clade: Sedentaria
Order: Sabellida
Family: Serpulidae
Subfamily: Serpulinae
Genus: Serpula
Linnaeus, 1758[1][2]
Species

29, see text

Serpula (also known as calcareous tubeworm, serpulid tubeworm, fanworm, or plume worm) is a genus of sessile, marine annelid tube worms that belongs to the family Serpulidae.[3] Serpulid worms are very similar to tube worms of the closely related sabellid family, except that the former possess a cartilaginous operculum that occludes the entrance to their protective tube after the animal has withdrawn into it. The most distinctive feature of worms of the genus Serpula is their colorful fan-shaped "crown". The crown, used by these animals for respiration and alimentation,[3] is the structure that is most commonly seen by scuba divers and other casual observers.

  1. ^ Carl von Linné (Carolus Linnaeus) (1758). Systema naturae. Per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. 10th Edition. Volume 1. Holmiæ: Impensis Laurentii Salvii. p. 786. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  2. ^ "Serpula". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference RSFox was invoked but never defined (see the help page).