Kingdom Animalia Class Polychaeta Family Sabellidae Rank Species | Phylum Annelida Order Sabellida Genus Sabellastarte | |
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Similar Sabellastarte, Sabellastarte magnifica, Sabellastarte spectabilis, Social feather duster, Myxicola | ||
Sabellastarte longa is a species of marine polychaete worms in the family Sabellidae. It is known as a feather-duster worm or a giant fanworm.
Contents
Description
Feather-duster worms grow to up to 15cm in total length. They are attractive fanworms with their heads modified for feeding. Two large spiral whorls in yellow, red, white or purple extend from a tube and retract rapidly if disturbed.
Distribution
These animals are found off the southern African coast from the Cape Peninsula in South Africa to Mozambique, as well as off Madagascar and Australia. They are found intertidally to at least 200m underwater. The majority of them is found surrounding Sydney, and Melbourne.
Ecology
The tube is built from food particles too large to eat and is cemented together with mucus.
Synonyms
The following species are synonyms of Sabellastarte longa: