サキブトカンザシゴカイ

Overview

Salmacina dysteri is a colonial, tube-forming annelid worm belonging to the family Serpulidae. It is a gregarious species that constructs delicate, slender, white calcareous tubes, which often intertwine to form dense, mesh-like or coral-like aggregations.

Appearance

Individual worms live within thin, fragile, opaque white tubes that measure approximately 0.5 mm in diameter. When the worms extend their branchial crowns—composed of two groups of four feather-like, ciliated radioles—the colony takes on a distinctively furry or fluffy appearance. Unlike many related serpulids, this species lacks an operculum (a lid used to seal the tube). The body of the worm is typically pink, red, or orange, with the base of the branchial crown often appearing reddish.

Distribution & habitat

While originally described from the temperate waters of Great Britain, this species is now considered cosmopolitan and is found in warm waters globally. It inhabits hard substrates, including submerged rocks, reefs, artificial structures like shipwrecks and boat hulls, and can also be found as an epibiont on organisms such as gorgonians, sponges, and various algae. It is commonly observed in sheltered areas, caves, and under overhangs, ranging from the lower shore down to depths of 600 meters.

Biology & behavior

This species is known for its colonial lifestyle, with aggregations sometimes reaching up to 30 cm in diameter. It is notoriously difficult to distinguish in the field from the related species Filograna implexa, as their physical differences are subtle and often require expert examination. The species is known to reproduce through both sexual and asexual means, including budding.