
Friday 25 January
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Annelida |
Class | Polychaeta |
Order | Canalipalpata |
Family | Sabellidae |
Genus | Sabella (1) |
The peacock worm (also known as the fan worm) (1) lives in a tough, membranous tube, which is covered in particles of mud (3). This flexible tube may reach up to 10cm above the sand (2). The head of the worm emerges from the tube in order to feed; a beautiful crown of feathery tentacles banded with purple, brown or red (3) is extended during feeding (2). The body of the worm, hidden by the tube, is greyish-purple or yellowish orange in colour (3).
Peacock worms often occur in large numbers. They provide habitats for other marine species, and may be found with sponges, seaweeds and ascidians (sea squirts) attached to them (3). Tiny hair-like structures on the tentacles known as 'cilia' filter suspended particles from the water. These particles are then sorted according to size; small ones are eaten, large ones are discarded and medium-sized particles are added to the top of the tube with mucus in order to increase its length (3).
In this species, the sexes are separate (some worms are 'hermaphroditic'), and breeding takes place in spring and summer (3). Unlike the sedentary, attached adults, the larval stage is planktonic, drifting in the sea for a time before settling on the substrate (3).
Has a wide distribution and is common in many areas around the coastline of Britain (2). It is also widely distributed around the coasts of north-west Europe (3).
Common and widespread (2).
Not currently threatened.
No conservation action has been targeted at this species.
For more on this species see the Marine Life Information Network species account, available from:
http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Sabellapavonina.htm
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk
Image credit
© Paul Kay / gettyimages.com
Getty Images
101 Bayham Street
London
NW1 0AG
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 800 376 7981
sales@gettyimages.com
http://www.gettyimages.com
Link to this photo
Embed this Arkive thumbnail link ("portlet") by copying and pasting the code below.
Terms of Use - The displayed portlet may be used as a link from your website to Arkive's online content for private, scientific, conservation or educational purposes only. It may NOT be used within Apps.
Read more about
MyARKive
MyARKive offers the scrapbook feature to signed-up members, allowing you to organize your favourite Arkive images and videos and share them with friends.
Play the Team WILD game:
Team WILD, an elite squadron of science superheroes, needs your help! Your mission: protect and conserve the planet’s species and habitats from destruction.
This species is featured in:
This is a UK sandy shore species. Visit our habitat page to learn more.