Unknown Polychaete

xaoss23 · 09-06-2005, 10:29 PM

Can anyone ID this bristleworm? Any info on them? (i.e. harmful or not?)
They are a silverish color and have a diamond-like patern down the back.

tdwyatt · 09-06-2005, 10:44 PM

anything for scale? a pic with a mm rule would be nice, as well as some ovehead lighting of less intensity to show detail, as well as a macro shot of the head and mouthpieces.

xaoss23 · 09-06-2005, 10:47 PM

that one was rather small.... 1/2inch max. Ive seen some smaller and some larger (1"-1.5").... unfortunately that was my macro. I will catch another to try to get better pics.

xaoss23 · 09-06-2005, 11:22 PM

these two are the best I can get with this particular camera. A detail of the body and the closest (focused) headshot:

tdwyatt · 09-06-2005, 11:28 PM

In the meantime if you don't have the camera to do this, get a good magnifying glass and look closely at the head. The head (acron) is represented by a flat to dome-shaped feature called the prostomium which contains the brain. It is one of the main distingushing features of polycheate worms and worm-like creatures in general and it's description ifs often one of the major means of identifying the polycheates.

The prostomium projects over the mouth like a shelf. The prostomial sense organs consist of :

eyes
antennae
palps

Behind the prostomium is the peristomium. The peristomium bears :

sensory tentacular cirri
feeding appendages: tentacular palps
eversible tongue (probiscus)

Use the magnifying glass and count the number # of antenna, look very carefully and count the number of eyes, the presence and number of cirri and palps located in the area of the head. Next consider the general shape of the prostomium. It will vary from flat and round to slender and narrow, conical, bi-lobed, pentagonal, square, rectangular, T-shaped, or fused with one or more segments following it.

Body segmentation would be important only in that it is either regular as your specimen is, or that it is divided into 3 distinct regions. Equally importnt is the actual shape of the body, whether it is dorsoventrally flat, fusiform, tapered, cylindrical, oval cylindrical, or even trumpet-shaped.

Diagram taken from the National University of Singapore web site

Other features will detail the type of parapodia, the number and type of setae on each parapodium, and the number and type of anal cirri.

...but good pix will help me much more than a good description...

xaoss23 · 09-06-2005, 11:34 PM

ooh ahh... I just had some SERIOUS flashbacks of zoology class. Oddly enough, I dont own a magnifying glass, however I will get one and see what I can see. We'll start with the best description I can give. If that doesnt work, maybe Ill drop a grand on the camera I really wanted; but realistically, Im not sure a polychaete ID is worth $1000.00

I really appreciate your help.

tdwyatt · 09-06-2005, 11:40 PM

OR, you could suck one up, put it in 95% ethyl alcohol (195 proof corn) and ship it in a plastic test tube to me wrapped in bubble wrap in a padded envelope and I will put it under the microscope and take pix for ya.

xaoss23 · 09-06-2005, 11:41 PM

OMG are you serious?

tdwyatt · 09-06-2005, 11:45 PM

send me a pm with your email addy, I'll send you my mailing/shipping addy. Once I have the specimen, I will post the pix.

My camera may suck, but I have a great microscope with a camera and a USB link. One day I'll let Dick talk me into buying a D70s.

xaoss23 · 09-06-2005, 11:47 PM

Very cool!!! I miss having resources... PM on the way.

xaoss23 · 09-07-2005, 12:27 AM

okay... going to get some supplies tomorrow. I'll dry prep them as per your instructions and get a sample shipped out to you. I'll post pics of the process as I go. Thanks again for your help... this kind of stuff is SOOO fun!!!

tims · 09-07-2005, 07:20 AM

het tony and tom , here is a nice little link for you to save..it might give you a closer idea to who it is...

Tom you will like this if you dont have it already

Loverotties · 09-07-2005, 07:57 AM

Cool!

tdwyatt · 09-08-2005, 12:52 AM

Thanlks for the key Tim, I was planning on using a set of printed keys I have here, but the elecrtonic version is sooo much easier to use...

Regardless, I have given Tony some instructions on how to prep the specimen with increasing concentrations of ethyl alcohol over a week, after which he should be able to ship it to me without worry that the specimen will be damaged or suffer decomposition on the way here. I'll shoot some low power micrographs and some details of the head and prostomium areas, and make a trip through the use of the key you've posted using Tony's specimen and ost it stepwise with this thread.

germy · 09-08-2005, 12:57 AM

this is gonna be awesome!