User:SD Kyle
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| SD Kyle | |
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| Eunereis longissima | |
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| Genus: | Nereis Linnaeus, 1758
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| Species: | arenanceodentata
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Neries (Neanthes) arenaceodentata is a polychaete
Habitat
[edit]Neries arenaceodentata inhabits soft bottoms
Range
[edit]Neries arenaceodentata ranges from the Atlantic coasts of Spain and France, the eastern and western coasts of the United States as well as various localities in the Pacific Ocean.
Behavior
[edit]N. arenaceodentata build tubes in which the worms shelter. They are usually soliatry animals and have been shown to exhibit interspecific fighting responses among males.
Reproduction
[edit]N. arenaceodenata are unusual in that they do not produce free swimming larva, but care for their young. When worms reach breeding age, indicated by eggs in the ceolom of the female, the male and female worm cohabitate in a common tube. Males externally fertizile after the female lays her eggs. After the eggs have been released the female will die with the worm either leaving the tube immediatly after laying her eggs or will be eaten by the male. Males stay with the eggs and irrigate the tube by undulating their body.
Following a period of approximatly one month, the eggs will hatch into what are termed emergent juvenile worms
Importance
[edit]N. arenaceodentata are used for scientific research, espcially for use in bioassays. They are also an important source of food for benthic organisms including fish and crustaceans.