| Pareurythoe californica | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Order: | Amphinomida |
| Family: | Amphinomidae |
| Genus: | Pareurythoe |
| Species: | P. californica |
| Binomial name | |
| Pareurythoe californica (Johnson, 1897) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Pareurythoe californica is a species of bristle worm found in the rocky intertidal of the Eastern Pacific, [1] [2] [3] particularly in California. [4]
Pareurythoe californica has a long and gradually tapered body that is flat dorsally and square in its cross-section. [1] As members of the family Amphinomidae , P. californica bears distinctive chaetae (bristles) that project laterally from its body. These give the organism a hairy appearance, and inspire common names like bristle worm and sea mouse. [5] The chaetae are used as a defense mechanism and a deterrent to predators, and they can induce irritation in humans when touched. [6]
P. californica are gonochoric. Eggs are produced in the worm's nephridium, and after they are fertilized, they develop into planktonic larvae, which metamorphose into a juvenile stage before reaching the adult stage. [7]
P. californica can be described as both a predator and a scavenger. [3] It feeds on a variety of organic materials, including detritus, algae, and occasionally small invertebrates. Additionally, it can obtain nutrients by absorbing amino acids from seawater. [3]