Syllidae

Syllidae
Syllis gracilis micrograph, showing the distinctive barrel-shaped proventricle
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Subclass: Errantia
Order: Phyllodocida
Suborder: Nereidiformia
Family: Syllidae
Grube 1850[1]
Synonyms

Levidoridae

Schizogamy in syllid polychaete

Syllidae, commonly known as the necklace worms,[2] is a family of small to medium-sized polychaete worms. Syllids are distinguished from other polychaetes by the presence of a muscular region of the anterior digestive tract known as the proventricle.[3][4]

Syllid worms range in size from 2–3 mm (0.08–0.12 in) to 14 centimetres (5.5 in). Most syllids are benthic organisms that transition to a pelagic epitoke for reproduction. They are found in all regions of the ocean, from the intertidal zone to the deep sea, and are especially abundant in shallow water.[3][5]

They are found in a range of habitats, moving actively on rock and sandy substrates, hiding in crevices and among seaweeds, and climbing on sponges, corals, hydrozoans, seagrasses and mangroves. They are generalist feeders.[6] A young Syllid was one of the first worms to be found with pollen from seagrass in its stomach, making it a possible pollinator.[7]

The proventricle, Syllid worm's most distinctive anatomical feature, allows the worm to feed by sucking due to its pumping action. It also plays a role in hormone production, and thus the worm's sexual development.[4] The proventricle is composed of strirated muscle cells with the longest known sacromeres among animals.[8] The proventricle is usually visible through the body wall.[9]

Syllis ramosa was the first polychaete discovered to have a branching body plan.[10] Later, two species of Ramisyllis were discovered to have a branching body plan.

  1. ^ Gil, J., Musco, L. (2015). Read G, Fauchald K (eds.). "Syllidae Grube, 1850". World Polychaeta database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Necklace-worms -- KnowBC - the leading source of BC information". www.knowbc.com. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  3. ^ a b Fukuda, Marcelo V. "Syllidae". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b Lamb, Andy; Hanby, Bernard P. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest. Canada: Harbour Publishing. p. 133. ISBN 1-55017-361-8.
  5. ^ San Martín, Guillermo; Worsfold, Tim M. (2015). "Guide and keys for the identification of Syllidae (Annelida, Phyllodocida) from the British Isles (reported and expected species)". ZooKeys (488): 1–29. doi:10.3897/zookeys.488.9061. PMC 4389122. PMID 25878521.
  6. ^ Sigvaldadottir, Elin; Mackie, Andrew S.Y.; Helgason, Gudmundur V.; Reish, Donald J.; Svavarsson, Jorundur; Steingrimsson, Sigmar A.; Gudmundsson, Gudmundur (2013). Advances in Polychaete Research. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 288. ISBN 978-94-017-0655-1.
  7. ^ van Tussenbroek, Brigitta I.; Villamil, Nora; Márquez-Guzmán, Judith; Wong, Ricardo; Monroy-Velázquez, L. Verónica; Solis-Weiss, Vivianne (29 September 2016). "Experimental evidence of pollination in marine flowers by invertebrate fauna". Nature Communications. 7 (1): 12980. Bibcode:2016NatCo...712980V. doi:10.1038/ncomms12980. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 5056424. PMID 27680661. S2CID 1903911.
  8. ^ Weidhase, Michael; Beckers, Patrick; Bleidorn, Christoph; Aguado, M. Teresa (2016-10-04). "On the role of the proventricle region in reproduction and regeneration in Typosyllis antoni (Annelida: Syllidae)". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 16 (1): 196. doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0770-5. ISSN 1471-2148. PMC 5050598. PMID 27716025.
  9. ^ "Syllidae : Brief Summary". eol.org. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  10. ^ Marshall, Michael (2 March 2012). "Zoologger: the worm that looks like a tree". New Scientist. Retrieved 28 September 2017.