Ophelina acuminata is a species of marine annelids, found in the sublittoral mud and sand bottom.
| Ophelina acuminata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Family: | Opheliidae |
| Genus: | Ophelina |
| Species: | O. acuminata
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| Binomial name | |
| Ophelina acuminata Örsted, 1843
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Morphology
editBody slender and 25–60 mm long, with 50 chaetae bearing segments. Colour yellowish or pearly grey with bright red gills, and all segments finely multi-annulated. The prostomium is conical, ending in a median progress with a slightly swollen tip and two big dorsolateral nuchal-crevasses. Except first, and two to three last segments, all chaetigers has long cirriform gills, and ventral cirri. Anus surmounted by a spoon shaped hood with a ventral opening, 20 fine annular rings and 14-20 long papillae along edge. On the ventral side of basis, two long cirrus, behind one unpaired longer cirri. .[1][2]
Ecology
editFound marine, in the shallow sublittoral. Mostly on sand, but as well seen on mixed muddy bottoms, from 10 to 1200 m.[1][3] From Northern Atlantic, along the African west coast to South Africa, northern part of the Pacific, and in the Indian Ocean. Swims snake-like, or are digging in the upper part of the bottom. Substrate surface deposit feeder, reproduction unknown.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Kirkegaard, J. B. Danmarks Fauna 86, Havbørsteorme II. Copenhagen. Danmarks Naturhistoriske Forening, 1996.
- ^ Hayward, P. J. & Ryland, J. S. Handbook of the Marine Fauna of North- West Europe. Oxford. Oxford University Press, 2010.
- ^ Køie, M., Kristiansen, A., Weitemeyer, S. Havets dyr og planter. København. Gads Forlag, 2000.