Lepidonotus squamatus (Linnaeus 1758)

Lepidonotus squamatus is a species of polychaete worm, commonly known as a "scale worm", in the family Polynoidae. This species occurs in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. It was first described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 as Aphrodita squamata but was later transferred to the genus Lepidonotus.^[1]

Description

The prostomium has two lobes and bears several pairs of antennae, a pair of palps and two pairs of eyes. The dorsal surface of the body, which has uniform width, is completely concealed by two rows of overlapping scales, resembling fish scales. These scales are modified cirri and are supported on short stalks. They are covered in tubercles of varying sizes, and have a fringe of papillae. This worm has 26 segments and grows to a length of about 5 cm (2 in); it is some shade of grey, drab brown or yellow, often being covered with mud.^[2][3]

Distribution and habitat

Lepidonotus squamatus occurs in Western Europe, including the North Sea, the Skagerrak, the Kattegat, the Öresund Strait and the western Baltic Sea.^[2] It is also present on the eastern seaboard of North America from Labrador southward to New Jersey and on the western seaboard from Alaska to California.^[1] It occurs in the littoral zone and the sublittoral zone at depths down to about 2,700 m (8,900 ft). Its habitat is typically beneath stones or among tangled growth.^[2]

Ecology

Scale worms play a role on the seabed similar to that of isopods (pill bugs or woodlice) on land. They are carnivorous, feeding on crabs, starfish, gastropod molluscs and any other small invertebrate they come across.^[4]

The scales of Lepidonotus squamatus emit a faint bioluminescent glow. This is a defensive mechanism, because any predator feeding on the worm is likely to acquire some scales which will adhere to its mouthparts; these will make it more visible, alerting its own predators to its whereabouts.^[4]

References

De geschubde zeerups (Lepidonotus squamatus) is een borstelworm uit de familie Polynoidae. Het lichaam van de worm bestaat uit een kop, een cilindrisch, gesegmenteerd lichaam en een staartstukje. De kop bestaat uit een prostomium (gedeelte voor de mondopening) en een peristomium (gedeelte rond de mond) en draagt gepaarde aanhangsels (palpen, antennen en cirri).

Lepidonotus squamatus werd in 1758 voor het eerst wetenschappelijk beschreven door Linnaeus.

• Fauchald, K., Barnich, R., Bellan, G. (2011). Lepidonotus squamatus (Linnaeus, 1758). In: Read, G., Fauchald, K. (Ed) (2011). World Polychaeta database. Gebaseerd op informatie uit het World Register of Marine Species, te vinden op http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=130801.

O verme-do-mar ^[1] (Lepidonotus squamatus) é uma espécie de anelídeo pertencente à família Polynoidae.

A autoridade científica da espécie é Linnaeus, tendo sido descrita no ano de 1758.

Trata-se de uma espécie presente no território português, incluindo a sua zona económica exclusiva.

Referências

• Lepidonotus squamatus - World Register of Marine Species (consultado em 31 de dezembro de 2013).

方背鳞虫（学名：Lepidonotus squamatus）为多鳞虫科背鳞虫属的动物。分布于大西洋、地中海、伯伦兹海、白海、美国、太平洋白令海、日本、朝鲜海峡，包括黄海、东海等海域。^[1]

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