Sternaspis scutata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sternaspis scutata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Order: | Terebellida |
| Family: | Sternaspidae |
| Genus: | Sternaspis |
| Species: | S. scutata |
| Binomial name | |
| Sternaspis scutata | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Sternaspis scutata is a species of marine polychaete worm in the family Sternaspidae. It occurs in the Mediterranean Sea and the temperate northeastern Atlantic Ocean.[1] It lives submerged in mud or other soft sediment.
Sternaspis scutata is a plump, whitish, barbell-shaped worm growing to a length of about 3.5 cm (1.4 in). The anterior region consists of seven segments, the second to fourth segments bearing lateral bundles of chaetae (bristles). This part is narrower and shorter than the posterior part of the worm which has thirteen to fifteen segments. On the underside of the posterior part there are two hard brown chitinous plates forming a shield, the margins of which are rimmed with bundles of long chaetae. A number of long, semi-coiled, thread-like gills arise from the base of the shield.[2]