Glycera (annelid)

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Bloodworms
Glycera alba (dim).jpg
Glycera sp.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Subclass: Errantia
Order: Phyllodocida
Family: Glyceridae
Genus: Glycera
Savigny, 1818
Species

Many, see text

The genus Glycera is a group of polychaetes (bristle worms) commonly known as bloodworms. They are typically found on the bottom of shallow marine waters, and some species (e.g. common bloodworms) can grow up to 35cm in length.

Contents

Although both are visually-similar and commonly-used as fishing bait, bloodworms are biologically-distinct from lugworms. [ citation needed ]

Anatomy

Bloodworms have a creamy pink color, as their pale skin allows their red body fluids that contain haemoglobin to show through. This is the origin of the name "bloodworm". At the 'head', bloodworms have four small antennae and small fleshy projections called parapodia running down their bodies. [1] [2] Bloodworms can grow up to 35cm in length.

Bloodworms are carnivorous. They feed by extending a large proboscis that bears four hollow jaws. The jaws are connected to glands that supply venom which they use to kill their prey, and their bite is painful even to a human. They are preyed on by other worms, bottom-feeding fish, crustacea, and gulls.

Reproduction occurs in midsummer, when the warmer water temperature and lunar cycle among other factors triggers sexually mature worms to transform into a non-feeding stage called the epitoke. With enlarged parapodia, they swim to the surface of the water where both sexes release gametes, and then die.

The first stage in many forms of bloodworm is a zooplanktonic stage followed by the benthic instar where the familiar segmented red larvae develop protected by silk tubes made in the bottom silt. These larvae progress from tiny pale opaque worms to the larger red larvae of 3 to 10 centimeters in length or longer over a period as short as 2–3 weeks in optimum conditions. [3]

These animals are unique in that they contain a lot of copper without being poisoned. Their jaws are unusually strong since they too contain the metal in the form of a copper-based chloride biomineral, known as atacamite, [4] in crystalline form. [5] It is theorized that this copper is used as a catalyst for its venomous bite. In Glycera dibranchiata, the jaws are a composite of melanin and 10% copper. [6]

Systematics

Glycera is the type genus of the family Glyceridae. It contains the following species as of October 2023: [7]

Use by humans

Glycera worms are sold commercially in tackle shops as bait for saltwater fishing. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Nereis</i> Genus of annelid worms

Nereis is a genus of polychaete worms in the family Nereididae. It comprises many species, most of which are marine. Nereis possess setae and parapodia for locomotion and gas exchange. They may have two types of setae, which are found on the parapodia. Acicular setae provide support. Locomotor setae are for crawling, and are the bristles that are visible on the exterior of the Polychaeta. They are cylindrical in shape, found not only in sandy areas, and they are adapted to burrow. They often cling to seagrass (posidonia) or other grass on rocks and sometimes gather in large groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atacamite</span> Halide evaporite mineral

Atacamite is a copper halide mineral: a copper(II) chloride hydroxide with formula Cu2Cl(OH)3. It was first described for deposits in the Atacama Desert of Chile in 1802 by Dmitri de Gallitzin. The Atacama Desert is also the namesake of the mineral.

<i>Spirobranchus</i> Genus of annelids

Spirobranchus is a small genus of tube-building annelid fanworms in the family Serpulidae.

<i>Nephtys</i> Genus of annelids

Nephtys is a genus of marine catworms. Some species are halotolerant to a degree in that they can survive in estuaries and estuarine lagoons down to a salinity of 20 psu.

<i>Harmothoe</i> Genus of annelids

Harmothoe is a genus of marine Polychaete worms belonging to the family Polynoidae. Species of Harmothoe are found world-wide to depths of at least 5,000 m but are more common in shallower water.

<i>Eunice</i> (annelid) Genus of worms

Eunice is a genus in the polychaete family Eunicidae. Individuals grow to a length of between 0.5 and 300 cm. Their bodies have multiple segments. They have two eyes and five tentacles. They have well-developed sense organs and relatively large brains. Their color is dark purple-brown to red-brown with a white ring at the fourth segment. They are found in oceans and seas around the world. They have an evertible proboscis with distinctive mouthparts, some of which comprise two rows of maxilliary plates in a radula-like fashion.

<i>Ampharetinae</i> Subfamily of annelids

Ampharetinae are a subfamily of terebellid "bristle worm". They are the largest subfamily of the Ampharetidae, of which they contain the great majority of the described genera.

<i>Phyllodoce</i> (annelid) Genus of annelids

Phyllodoce is a genus of polychaete worms, which contains about 200 species. The prostomium bears eyes, two pairs of antennae and a pair of large retractile nuchal organs. The eversible proboscis is clearly divided into two parts.

<i>Diopatra</i> Genus of annelid worms

Diopatra is a genus of polychaete worms in the family Onuphidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphinomidae</span> Family of annelids

Amphinomidae, also known as the fireworms, bristle worms or sea mice, are a family of marine polychaetes, many species of which bear chaetae mineralized with carbonate. The best-known amphinomids are the fireworms, which can cause great pain if their toxin-coated chaetae are touched or trodden on. Their relationship to other polychaete groups is somewhat poorly resolved.

<i>Cirriformia</i> Genus of annelid worms

Cirriformia is a genus of marine polychaete worms in the family Cirratulidae.

<i>Eulalia</i> (annelid) Genus of annelids

Eulalia is a genus of polychaete worms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syllidae</span> Family of annelids

Syllidae, commonly known as the necklace worms, is a family of small to medium-sized polychaete worms. Syllids are distinguished from other polychaetes by the presence of a muscular region of the anterior digestive tract known as the proventricle.

<i>Lepidasthenia</i> Genus of annelids

Lepidasthenia is a genus of marine Polychaete worms belonging to the family Polynoidae. Species of Lepidasthenia are found worldwide to depths of about 1200 m but are more common in shallower water.

<i>Eunoe</i> (animal) Genus of annelid worms

Eunoe is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae. The genus includes 48 species which are found world-wide, mostly from depths of 50 m or more.

<i>Lepidonotus</i> Genus of annelids


Lepidonotus is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae. The genus occurs globally and includes 80 species, usually found in shallow waters down to about 80 metres.

Aglaophamus is a genus of free-burrowing nephtyid worms.

<i>Cirratulus</i> Genus of segmented worms

Cirratulus is a genus of annelids belonging to the family Cirratulidae.

Lumbrineris is a genus of polychaetes belonging to the family Lumbrineridae.

References

  1. Chien PK, Rice MA (1985). "Autoradiographic localization of exogenously supplied amino acids after uptake by the polychaete, Glycera dibranchiata Ehlers". Wasmann Journal of Biology. 43: 60–71. ISSN   0043-0927. OCLC   6322423.
  2. Qafaiti M, Stephens GC (1988). "Distribution of Amino Acids to Internal Tissues After Epidermal Uptake in the Annelid Glycera dibranchiata" (PDF). Journal of Experimental Biology. 136 (1): 177–191. doi:10.1242/jeb.136.1.177.
  3. "Bloodworm: Uses and applications as a fishing bait". Archived from the original on 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  4. Lichtenegger HC, Schöberl T, Bartl MH, Waite H, Stucky GD (October 2002). "High abrasion resistance with sparse mineralization: copper biomineral in worm jaws". Science. 298 (5592): 389–92. Bibcode:2002Sci...298..389L. doi:10.1126/science.1075433. PMID   12376695. S2CID   14001250.
  5. Lichtenegger HC, Schöberl T, Ruokolainen JT, et al. (August 2003). "Zinc and mechanical prowess in the jaws of Nereis, a marine worm". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100 (16): 9144–9. Bibcode:2003PNAS..100.9144L. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1632658100 . PMC   170886 . PMID   12886017.
  6. Lesté-Lasserre, Christa (April 25, 2022). "Bloodworms have copper jaws that could inspire self-building materials". New Scientist. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  7. Read, G.; Fauchald, K. (Ed.) (2023). World Polychaeta Database. Glycera Lamarck, 1818. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=129296 on 2023-10-15
  8. WHITTLE, PATRICK (2017-04-27). "Abating Bait: Decline in Prized Worms Threatens Way of Life". U.S. News. Archived from the original on 2018-04-21.

"Fishing for Allergens: Bloodworm-Induced Asthma" study at the Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology (AACI) site [1]

  1. Wu, Keith CP; Räsänen, Katja; Hudson, Thomas J. (2005). "Fishing for Allergens: Bloodworm-Induced Asthma". Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. 1 (2): 58–59. doi: 10.1186/1710-1492-1-2-58 . PMC   2877067 . PMID   20529225.