Kingdom Animalia Genus Dinophilus Rank Species | Family Dinophilidae Phylum Annelida Subclass Incertae sedis | |
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Similar Haplodrili, Myzostomida, Eunicida | ||
Dinophilus taenitus is 1.5 – 2.5 mm long and about 150 µm wide, and its colour is orange with two distinct black eyes on prostomium. Prostomium has two ciliary rings with a mid-dorsal interruption, and second ring being widest. Anterior part of prosomium has four large and many small bristeles and sensory cilia. The trunk consist of 11 rings where the first 9 rings are easily distinctly separable Ventral trunk densely covered with cilia.
Contents
Ecology
Free swimming “Dinophilus taenitus” are found October to June lives in tidal pools with the diatom “Enteromopha” spp. and “Ulva lactuca”. Numbers peak March to April and decline with rising temperature and lesser diatom abundances, the decline is due to death of reproducing adults and obligatory encystment of juveniles.
Distribution
North Sea (Scottish and English east coast. Belgian coast Helgoland(?). English Channel (Plymouth, Roscoff). Irish Sea (North Wales, Isle of Man). Atlantic (Irish coasts, Faroe Islands). Spanish coast (Valencia) Baltic (Kiel Bay). Skagerrak (Swedish west coast). White sea. Barents Sea.
Reproduction
Females produces a maximum of 4 cocoons with up to 16 eggs each in a sequence of 2–3 months.. Excysted worms mature, feed and reproduce sexually until may.