Eudistylia Vancouveri Class: Polychaeta, Sedentaria, Canalipalpata

Phylum: Annelida

Eudistylia vancouveri Class: Polychaeta, Sedentaria, Canalipalpata

Order: Sabellida A feather-duster worm Family: Sabellidae, Sabellinae

Taxonomy: Eudistylia polymorpha was orig- Body: Body divided into thoracic and ab- inally described as Sabella vancouveri and dominal regions where abdomen gradually later re-described and figured by Johnson tapers posteriorly. (1901) as Bispira polymorpha, when Eudi- Anterior: Prostomium or head is re- stylia was differentiated by characters of tho- duced and indistinguishable (Figs. 4, 5). racic notosetae which were later deemed Trunk: Thorax of eight segments and insignificant at the genus level and the two abdomen of many segments. Thoracic collar genera were synonymized to Eudistylia with four lobes (Fig. 4) that are visible on the (Fauvel 1927 and Johansson 1927 in Banse ventral side with no long thoracic membrane. 1979). Since then, several species have Collar is used to build the tube by been synonymized with E. polymorpha in- incorporating sand grains with exuded mucus cluding Sabella vancouveri and S. columbi- and attaching a “rope” to the tube anterior. ana, E. abbreviata, E. gigantea, E. plumosa Posterior: Worm body tapers toward and E. tenella (Banse 1979). posterior to slender yet broad pygidium (Fig. 1). Description Parapodia: Biramous, (Figs. 1, 6) except for Size: One of the largest sabellids. Individu- first or collar segment, which has only als range in size from 300–480 mm in length notopodia (Hartman 1969). In thoracic and 15–20 mm in width, where the tube is setigers (setigers 2–8), the notopodia have up to 10 mm diameter (Hartman 1969; Ko- bundles of long and slender setae (Figs. 7b, zloff 1974). This description is based on il- c). The neuropodia on setigers 2–8 have lustrated and dissected specimens (Fig. 1). pairs of short uncini (hooks) (Fig. 7a) encased Color: Crown of tentacles dark red and in zipper-like, raised ridges called tori (Fig. 6). green and radially striped (5–8 stripes) This arrangement is reversed in the abdomen, (Hartman 1969; Kozloff 1974). Hartman where the notopodia contain hooks in the (1969) reports tentacles that were dark red abdominal segments and the neuropodia and orange or yellow in California, but this have long spines (Fig. 6). description may refer to E. polymorpha, in Setae (chaetae): Thoracic notosetae of two part (see Possible Misidentifications). kinds (genus Eudistylia): one long, slender Some tentacles are white-tipped. The illus- and bilimbate (Fig. 7b) and the other spatulate trated specimen (Fig. 1) had a buff colored and not scimitar-like (Fig. 7c). Abdominal no- body with light green markings and white tosetae are short avicular uncini (Fig. 7e). spots. The tube is buff or grey in color. Thoracic neurosetae in torus, pennoned or General Morphology: A robust worm with a flagged and acivular hooks or uncini arranged short tentacular crown that is brilliantly col- in a long row of about 20 pairs (Fig. 7a). Ab- ored (Hartman 1969). Worms can be recog- dominal neurosetae long and pointed (Fig. nized in large groups called hummocks 7d). where tubes are built upon each other and Eyes/Eyespots: Anterior eyespots lacking resemble shrubs (e.g. Fig. 3).

A publication of the University of Oregon Libraries and the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology Individual species: https://oimb.uoregon.edu/oregon-estuarine-invertebrates and full 3rd edition: http://hdl.handle.net/1794/18839 Email corrections to: [email protected]

Hiebert, T.C. 2014. Eudistylia vancouveri. In: Oregon Estuarine Invertebrates: Rudys' Illustrated Guide to Common Species, 3rd ed. T.C. Hiebert, B.A. Butler and A.L. Shanks (eds.). University of Oregon Libraries and Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Charleston, OR.

however, eyespots are present on radiole Other tube worms include the Terebel- ribs where each radiole has 5–7 black eyes lidae, which have soft cirri that cannot be in a row (Hartman 1969) (Fig. 2) on the dor- completely retracted into the tube (as sabel- sal-most radiole pair (Blake and Ruff 2007). lids can). Terebellids sometimes have gills Anterior Appendages: Anterior crown of on their anterior segments (see Thelepus tentacles made up of two equal parts com- crispus and Pista pacifica), and their setal posed of many radioles (Fig. 1). Radioles, types are not inverted (Blake 1975). also called cirri or tentacles, are individual A family with an easily confusing branches of the crown and are single and name is the Sabellaridae, which builds sand undivided with forked, simple side branches tubes. These have 2–3 rows of paleae or pinnules (Fig. 2) and dark eyespots along (flattened setae) forming highly modified ce- the lower edge, especially near radiole ba- phalic structures, but not crowns. Their bod- ses (Fig. 2). Bases are spiraled twice (genus ies are clearly defined into thorax, abdomen Eudistylia). Crown conceals mouth and and long caudal region. head and edges are smooth and not incised Within the family Sabellidae, there are (Hartman 1969) (Fig. 5). two subfamilies represented locally, Fabrici- Branchiae: Blood within branchiae is green inae and Sabellinae. The subfamily Fabrici- in color due to the respiratory pigment inae differs from the Sabellinae in its small chlorocruorin (Abbott and Reish 1980; Ter- size and in its temporary fragile mucus tubes. williger et al. 1975). Branchial base without Several northwest genera exist, including: groove dorsally (Blake and Ruff 2007). Chone species are tiny worms with a Burrow/Tube: Tube is long, cylindrical, flex- membrane partly uniting its radioles and a ible, permanent, tough, leathery and mem- thoracic collar which is complete and not branous. It is made of mucus and cemented lobed. Local species have 15 or fewer pairs sediment and is not calcareous and without of radioles. operculum. Worm can completely withdraw Fabricia species have few segments into tube. and sparse radioles and individuals are quite Pharynx: small. Amphicorina has 7–8 abdominal seg- Genitalia: ments, not three. Nephridia: The subfamily Sabellinae (to which E. vancouveri belongs) is noted for its avicular Possible Misidentifications uncini in the thoracic neuropodia, and for its Characteristics of the family Sabelli- permanent, tough and leathery tubes. Other dae are the tentacular crown of bipinnate genera of the sub-family include: radioles, lack of gills on the body segments Schizobranchia (=split branch) and setal types reversed from thoracic to species are common from central California abdominal regions (see parapodia). These to Puget Sound (Blake and Ruff 2007). This characters they share with the Serpulidae, small worm occurs in great masses on floats. however, sabellids are distinct from Its radioles are branched, not single and it is serpulids by having a leathery tube of often tan colored with a bright red crown (not mucus and sand which lacks an operculum striped) (Kozloff 1974). Schizobranchia or trap door. Serpulids, on the other hand, insignis (Bush, 1905) often occurs with and is have a calcareous tube and a staked intermixed in clumps with Eudistylia operculum resembling a golf tee vancouveri (Blake and Ruff 2007). (O’Donoghue 1924). Megalomma species usually occurs in

deep water and are rare intertidally. The out of the tube, on each side and at the base composite eyes which characterize this of the two spiraled cirri (Blake and Ruff genus are spiraled around the radiole ends 2007). This groove is ventral and becomes (Blake 1975). dorsal anteriorly (Kozloff 1993). Pseudopotamilla includes three local Ecological Information species of small, rare tube worms which Range: Type locality is Vancouver Island, share with Eudistylia the simple pinnate B.C. (Hartman 1969). NE Pacific range from crown of radioles, but the bases of whose Alaska to central California. two crowns of tentacles are curved into Local Distribution: In Coos Bay on floating semicircles and are not spiraled. docks or in hummocks. Several hummocks Sabella species bear two lobes on occur just northwest of the OIMB beach. the thoracic collar, rather than four in Habitat: Wharfs, floats, sandy and silty mud- Eudistylia vancouveri. All members of this flats, as well as vertical rock faces in heavy genus have spiraled fascicles on their surf (Kozloff 1974). abdominal setae (Knight-Jones and Perkins Salinity: Found at salinities of >30, in areas 1998). of heavy flushing of water. This species Brispira species are found in mem- doesn’t tolerate reduced salinity (Ricketts and branous tubes on rocky bottoms. This ge- Calvin 1971). nus was revised in 1998 (Knight-Jones and Temperature: Cold to temperate. Perkins) and now includes Brispira Tidal Level: Collected on floats just below (=Sabella) crassicornis which has paired water surface, intertidal (Hartman 1969). eyespots in deep red bands on its radioles Associates: Associates include the copepod, (Blake 1975). Gastrodelphys dalesi (at Tomales Point, Cali- Myxicola species have a thick, fornia), but worm tubes form a complex mi- transparent mucus sheath or gelatinous crohabitat in which many animals and plants tube covering its body and its radioles are survive. Tube hummocks of Eudistylia van- joined by a web for most of their length couveri are often interspersed with another (Fitzhugh 1989). sabellid, Schizobranchia insignis (Blake and Eudistylia vancouveri and E. poly- Ruff 2007). morpha, may in fact be the same species Abundance: Gregarious and can be the prin- (Ricketts and Calvin 1971) and some be- cipal sabellid in rocky habitats (e.g. Puget lieve that hybridization occurs (Blake and Sound, Kozloff 1974). Individuals grow in Ruff 2007). There are two obvious diffe- large clumps, in shrub-like masses called rences between them: E. polymorpha does hummocks (Ricketts and Calvin 1971) (Fig. not have striped radioles, they are a solid 3). dark red with orange tips and the dorsal edge of the crown of radioles in not entire Life-History Information (Fig. 5), but is instead notched. Eudistylia Reproduction: Developmental modes among vancouveri is slightly larger than E. poly- sabellids are highly variable from brooded morpha and the latter is much less likely to lecithotrophy, to direct development, and be found in large clumps and is the more planktonic larvae that are either planktotrophic common species in California (Kozloff or lecithotrophic (Crumrine 2001). Eudistylia 1993). Eudistylia polymorpha is also reco- vancouveri are sexual and dioecious although gnizable by a deep cleft or groove, which asexual reproduction with some regeneration serves in excretory and gametic transport is also possible. Males, with white sperm,

and females, with green eggs, are free Errantia. Ophelia. 14:23-84. spawners and gametes are released 4. BLAKE, J. A., and E. R. RUFF. 2007. Pol- through abdominal nephridial pores and into ychaeta, p. 309-410. In: Light and Smith a ventral shallow groove (Fig. 4) and out of manual: intertidal invertebrates from cen- tube. Spawning has been observed from tral California to Oregon. J. Carlton (ed.). late February to July (Washington, Fernald University of California Press, Berkeley, et al. 1987). The development of Eudistylia CA. vancouveri is not known. 5. CRUMRINE, L. 2001. Polychaeta, p. 39- Larva: There are only two local sabellid spe- 77. In: Identification guide to larval marine cies with described larvae and those are invertebrates of the Pacific Northwest. A. Demonax media and Chone infundibuliform- Shanks (ed.). Oregon State University is (Crumrine 2001). Press, Corvallis, OR. Juvenile: 6. FERNALD, R. L., C. O. HERMANS, T. C. Longevity: LACALLI, W. H. WILSON, JR, and S. A. Growth Rate: WOODIN. 1987. Phylum Annelida, Class Food: A filter feeder. Plankton particles are Polychaeta, p. 138-195. In: Reproduction trapped by funnel of pinnules and driven by and development of marine invertebrates beating cilia, carried down to radiole base of the northern Pacific coast. M. F. Strath- where they are sorted and ingested. mann (ed.). University of Washington Predators: This species is frequently used Press, Seattle, WA. by humans for fish bait. 7. FITZHUGH, K. 1989. Systematic revision Behavior: Individuals can retract fully ex- of the Sabellidae-Caobangiidae- tended tentacular crown rapidly and does so Sabellongidae complex (Annelida, Poly- in response to even slight disturbance, such chaeta). Bulletin of the American Museum as a passing shadow. The ability to retract of Natural History. 192:4-104. is due to large nerve fibers that allow the 8. HARTMAN, O. 1969. Atlas of the seden- worm to withdraw completely into its tube at tariate polychaetous annelids from Califor- rates up to 7 m/s (Eudistylia polymorpha, nia. Allan Hancock Foundation, University Abbot and Reish 1980). of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. 9. JOHNSON, H. P. 1901. The Polychaeta of Bibliography the Puget Sound region. Proceedings of 1. ABBOTT, D. P., and D. J. REISH. 1980. the Boston Society of Natural History. Polychaeta: the marine annelid worms, p. 29:381-437. 448-489. In: Intertidal invertebrates of 10. KNIGHT-JONES, P., and T. H. PERKINS. California. R. H. Morris, D. P. Abbott, and 1998. A revision of Sabella, Bispira and E. C. Haderlie (eds.). Stanford University Stylomma (Polychaeta : Sabellidae). Zoo- Press, Stanford, CA. logical Journal of the Linnean Society. 2. BANSE, K. 1979. Sabellidae 123:385-467. (Polychaeta) principally from the north- 11. KOZLOFF, E. N. 1974. Keys to the marine east Pacific Ocean. Journal of the Fisher- invertebrates of Puget Sound, the San ies Research Board of Canada. 36:869- Juan Archipelago, and adjacent regions. 882. University of Washington Press, Seattle. 3. BLAKE, J. A. 1975. The Larval develop- 12. KOZLOFF, E.N. 1993. Seashore life of the ment of Polychaeta from the northern northern Pacific coast: an illustrated guide California coast. III. eighteen species of to northern California, Oregon, Washing-

ton, and British Columbia. University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA 13. O'DONOGHUE, C. H. 1924. A note on the polychaetous annelid Eudistylia gigantea Bush. Contributions to Canadian Biology. 1:443-453. 14. RICKETTS, E. F., and J. CALVIN. 1971. Between Pacific tides. Stanford Universi- ty Press, Stanford, California. 15. TERWILLIGER, R. C., R. L. GARLICK, N. B. TERWILLIGER, and D. P. BLAIR. 1975. Molecular weight of Eudistylia vancouveri chlorocruorin and its subunits. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 400:302- 309. Updated 2014 T.C. Hiebert