Phylum: Annelida Glycera robusta Class: Polychaeta, Errantia Order: Pyllodocida, Glyceriformia The large proboscis worm Family: Glyceridae Taxonomy: There are relatively few glycerid that is visible through the thin body wall. Un- genera and Glycera contains the largest like other glycerids, Glycera robusta contains number of species. Several authors have both coelomic cell hemoglobin and myoglobin attempted to divide this genus into subgene- within the body wall musculature (Terwilliger ra or genera. Groups have been divided and Garlick 1978). based on proboscideal organs (but no for- Anterior: Glycerids are characterized mal genera designated) by Hartman (1950) by their conical, annulated and elongate pro- and recent reviews have synonymized spe- stomia that taper to a fine point anteriorly cies (Böggemann 2002) or split the genus (Blake and Ruff 2007). The prostomium is into many sibling species (e.g. O’Connor small and bears 10 biannulate rings, the first 1987). Glycera robusta, however, is unique being approximately one third of the total in its universal stability as a valid taxon with length (Fig. 2). The prostomium is longer a reliable description (Scamit 2002; Blake than it is wide (Hilbig 1997) (Fig. 2) and the and Ruff 2007). basal prostomial ring is fused with the peristo- mium (Blake and Ruff 2007). Description Trunk: Segments posterior to peristo- Size: The largest of the Glyceridae, up to mium are considerably wider than anterior 800 mm in length and 22 mm in width most segments (Hilbig 1997) (Fig. 2). The (Berkeley and Berkeley 1942; Hilbig 1997) body bears numerous, tightly packed seg- and can have up to 300 segments (Hartman ments. 1968). The illustrated specimen, from South Posterior: Anal end is narrow and ta- Slough of Coos Bay, was 500 mm in length pers to a fine point, adorned with a pair of and 20 mm in width. small cirri (Fig. 1) (Berkeley and Berkeley Color: Dark red, but can be yellow-brown. 1942). Their color gives rise to the common name Parapodia: Inconspicuous, biramous (Fig. 4) of the family Glyceridae – the blood worms and one-tenth of total body width in mid-body (Blake and Ruff 2007). regions (Hilbig 1997). Pre- and post-acicular General Morphology: Long, stout and stiff lobes are equally bifid, the former resembling worms with numerous densely packed seg- the ventral cirrus (Fig. 4) (Blake 1975) while ments and a conical and annulated anterior the post-acicular lobes are short (Hartman that tapers to a point (Glyceridae, Blake and 1968). The dorsal parapodial margin with Ruff 2007). Glycera robusta is dorsoventral- blister-like, fleshy branchia (see Branchiae ly flattened in cross-section, is widest in an- below) (Fig. 4). terior regions, and gradually tapers to a Setae (chaetae): Notosetae simple, slender point posteriorly (Hilbig 1997) (Fig. 1). and finely serrated capillaries and neurosetae Body: Members of the family Glyceridae are compound spinigers that are slightly wider lack a separate circulatory system and their than notosetae (Hilbig 1997) (Fig. 5). coelomic fluid contains hemoglobin Eyes/Eyespots: No eyespots are visible, alt- (Terwilliger et al. 1976; Morris et al. 1980) 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. 2015. Glycera robusta. 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. hough small eyespots may be present on is morphologically similar to the Glyceridae the terminal prostomial ring (Glyceridae, and identification requires examination of Blake and Ruff 2007). the parapodia and proboscis. The Goni- Anterior Appendages: The anteriormost adidae have bodies divided into three parts prostomial ring bears two pairs of small and by different types of parapodia and their bifurcate terminal cirri, but no other anterior bodies are usually more cylindrical and slen- appendages are present (Blake and Ruff der than is seen in the Glyceridae (Hilbig 2007) (Fig. 2). 1997; Blake and Ruff 2007). The everted Branchiae: Blister-like branchiae begin on proboscis of goniadids also have two jaws, setiger 23 (Fig. 1, 4). The branchiae pro- not four, and a row of denticles (called chev- trude from dorsal parapodial walls from se- rons, Böggemann et al. 2012). The genus tiger 23–34 and (in large specimens) bran- Glycera is characterized by its pointed and chiae are present along the ventral parapo- annulated prostomium, four small anterior dial walls beyond setiger 35 (Hilbig 1997). cirri, peristomium fused to basal prostomial The presence of branchiae ventrally and rings, a cylindrical proboscis with probos- dorsally was once thought to be characteris- cideal organs and four fang-like jaws termi- tics of different species, but was found to be nally (Hilbig 1997). Members of this genus a character that varies with individual size also have biramous parapodia with two pre- (Berkeley and Berkeley 1942; Hilbig 1997). setal and 1–2 post-setal lobes, short dorsal Burrow/Tube: cirri and elongate ventral cirri. They usually Pharynx: Bears large and powerful probos- have branchiae, simple notosetae and com- cis (up to 26 mm long) (Hartman 1968). pound neurosetae. There are currently five When fully everted, four terminal black chiti- local Glycera species (Blake and Ruff nous jaws are visible, each jaw composed of 2007). a hook-like fang and a V-shaped support G. americana, with four-lobed (called an aileron). The ailerons in G. robus- parapodia and branched, retractile ta consist of a thick outer ramus and a very branchiae (Hartman and Reish 1950), is thin inner ramus (Hilbig 1997). The probos- found intertidally to 120 m. G. nana cis epithelium is densely covered with pear- (=capitata), another large species (but only shaped papillae, called proboscideal organs up to 100 mm), with two pre-setal (Berkeley and Berkeley 1942; Blake and parapodial lobes, and one post-setal lobe, Ruff 2007) (Fig. 3). These proboscideal or- but no branchiae. G. macrobranchia gans are oval to flask shaped, bearing 6–8 (=convoluta) has a single non-retractile ridges (Hilbig 1997) (Fig. 3). branchia and 14 to 16 annulations in the Genitalia: prostomium (unlike 10 in G. robusta). G. Nephridia: dibranchiata has two finger-like branchiae, one above and one below the setal lobe, Possible Misidentifications this species is commonly harvested for bait Distinctive characters of the Glycer- in Canada and along the eastern coast of idae include a pointed and annulated pro- the United States. G. tenuis has but one stomium with two pairs of anterior append- pre-setal parapodial lobe on its posterior se- ages and a long, powerful proboscis with tiger, is only 80 mm in length, when mature, four hook-shaped jaws and accessory ai- and 13–16 proboscideal organs (Blake and lerons (Böggemann et al. 2012). The oth- Ruff 2007). er proboscis worm family, the Goniadidae, 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] Ecological Information Food: Glycerids are mainly carnivorous Range: Type locality is California (Hartman (Crumrine 2001). 1968). Known range includes the western Predators: (Japan) and eastern Pacific (Washington to Behavior: Individuals use their proboscis to southern California), however, G. robusta is burrow quickly. not currently in Puget Sound Keys (e.g. Bibliography Kozloff 1974). Local Distribution: Coos Bay distribution 1. BERKELEY, E., and C. BERKELEY. 1942. includes many sites in the bay, such as North Pacific Polychaeta, chiefly from the South Slough and Fossil Point, and outside west coast of Vancouver Island, Alaska, the bay, in the small sandy beaches at Cape and Bering Sea. Canadian Journal of Re- Arago (Hartman and Reish 1950). search. 20:183-208. Habitat: Glycera robusta preferred sub- 2. BLAKE, J. A. 1975. Phylum Annelida: strates include beds of black mud (Ricketts Class Polychaeta, p. 151-243. In: Light's and Calvin 1971), gravelly sand (Hartman manual: intertidal invertebrates of the cen- 1968), and sand and cobble sediments tral California coast. S. F. Light, R. I. (Blake and Ruff 2007). Smith, and J. T. Carlton (eds.). University Salinity: of California Press, Berkeley. Temperature: 3. BLAKE, J. A., and R. E. RUFF. 2007. Pol- Tidal Level: Intertidal and shelf depths ychaeta, p. 309-410. In: The Light and (Hartman 1968; Blake and Ruff 2007). Smith manual: intertidal invertebrates Associates: fromc California to Oregon. J. T. Carlton Abundance: (ed.). University of California Press, Berke- ley, CA. Life-History Information 4. BOEGGEMANN, M. 2002. Revision of the Reproduction: The reproduction and devel- Glyceridae GRUBE 1850 (Annelida: Poly- opment of G. robusta is not known. Most chaeta). Abhandlungen der Sencken- glycerids become epitokous in spring and bergischen Naturforschenden Gesell- summer months (Morris et al. 1980) and fe- schaft:1-249. males release lens-shaped oocytes (Fernald 5. BOEGGEMANN, M., C. BIENHOLD, and et al. 1987). S. M. GAUDRON. 2012. A new species of Larva: Development proceeds via an eye- Glyceridae (Annelida: 'Polychaeta') recov- less trochophore larva. These ered from organic substrate experiments planktotrophic larvae feed on diatoms and at cold seeps in the eastern Mediterranean detritus, eventually developing to epibenthic Sea. Marine Biodiversity. 42:47-54. stages and become predatory once their 6. CRUMRINE, L. 2001. Polychaeta, p. 39- jaws are fully formed (Fernald et al. 1987). 77. In: Identification guide to larval marine Many of the locally known Glycera species invertebrates of the Pacific Northwest. A. produce nectochaete larvae that are charac- Shanks (ed.). Oregon State University terized by a long, pointed and annulated Press, Corvallis, OR.