Department of Zoology at ANDC/Zoology Museum/Museum specimens/Annelida/Chaetopterus

Chaetopterus

Systematic Postion

Phylum: Annelida

Class: Polychaeta

Genus: Chaetopterus

Common Name: Paddle worm

Distribution

Worldwide distribtion, mainly found in Europe, and U.S.A.

Habit and habitat

Tubicolous, lives in U-shaped tubes.

Food

small organisms,true filter feeders.

Identifying features

• Body is delicate consisting of highly modified segments.

• Body color is white.

• Length is approximately 15-35 cm.

• Body is divided into an anterior region, middle region and a posterior region.

• Anterior region consists of 15-20 segments parapodia, prostomium, peristomial collar(cirri and mouth). It lacks the tentacles and palps.

• Middle region consists of five segments:

1. anterior most, produced into great wings.
2. a pair of sucker.
3. have fans(fused notopodia).

• Posterior region consists of 11-30 similar segments without setae.It is more longer than anterior and posterior regions. Each segment consists of a pair of parapodia.

• Parapodia are modified accordingly to their function. They are modified into pumping fans, sucking discs and food ball organs.

• Notopodia are greatly reduced in Chaetopterus. But the 10th segment contains a wing like notopodia and collect food with the help of this notopodia.

• It is an animal having great power of regeneration.

• Asexual reproduction by transverse fission.