Loimia medusa, commonly known as the spaghetti worm or medusa worm,[1] is an aquatic species of annelid belonging to the family Terebellidae.[2]
| Loimia medusa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Order: | Terebellida |
| Family: | Terebellidae |
| Genus: | Loimia |
| Species: | L. medusa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Loimia medusa (Savigny, 1822)
| |
Description
editLoimia medusa has long bluish white feeding tentacles that give the appearance of spaghetti noodles under any kind of rubble or rocks.[3] Under those rocks, it has a body that is surrounded by a tube consisting of bits of shell and gravel,[4] creating a tube that has a tough membranous lining with segments. The body can grow to be about 12 in (300 mm) long, while the tentacles can grow to twice that length.[5]
Distribution and habitat
editLoimia medusa prefers tropical oceans, such as the Indo-Pacific and the Western Central Atlantic,[6] including reefs off of the Hawaiian Islands.[7]
Its habitat includes spaces such as tidepools, brackish waters, and bays that consist of rubble.[6] They can also be found in sand and coral reefs in the deeper waters across the Hawaiian islands.[8]
Cultural significance
editIn Hawai'i, Loimia medusa is known as the Kauna'oa. During the Old Hawai'i times, this invertebrate was used for medicinal purposes.[4]
References
edit- ^ Kaplan, Eugene Herbert (1999). A Field Guide to Coral Reefs. Houghton Mifflin. p. 139. ISBN 9780618002115. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ WoRMS. "Loimia medusa (Savigny, 1822)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
- ^ Devaney, M. (1987). Reef and Shore Fauna of Hawai'i. Bishop Museum Press. pp. 401, 402. ISBN 0-930897-11-0.
- ^ a b "Project Aloha 'Āina". Ulukau: The Hawaiian Electronic Library. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Edmondson, Charles (1987). Reef and Shore Fauna of Hawai'i. Bishop Museum Press. p. 401. ISBN 0-930897-11-0.
- ^ a b "Loimia medusa (Savigny, 1818)". Sealife Base. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Stender, Keoki; Stender, Yuki. "Loimia Medusa". Marine Life Photography. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Hoover, John (1999). Hawai'i's Sea Creatures: A Guide to Hawaii's Marine Invertebrates. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-56647-220-3.
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