Aphrodita is a genus of marine polychaete worms found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.[2]
| Aphrodita | |
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| Aphrodita aculeata | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Subclass: | Errantia |
| Order: | Phyllodocida |
| Suborder: | Aphroditiformia |
| Family: | Aphroditidae |
| Genus: | Aphrodita Linnaeus, 1758[1] |
| Type species | |
| Aphrodita aculeata Linnaeus, 1758
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| Species | |
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See text | |
Several members of the genus are known as "sea mice".
Etymology
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The name of the genus is taken from Aphrodite, the Ancient Greek goddess of love, said to be because of a resemblance to human female genitalia.[3] The English name may derive from the animal's similarity, when washed up on shore, to a bedraggled house mouse.[4]
Description
editAphrodita adults generally fall within a size range of 7.5 to 15 centimetres (3.0 to 5.9 in), with some growing to 30 centimetres (12 in). The body is covered in a dense mat of parapodia and setae (hairlike structures).[2] The animal lacks eyes, feeling its way with two pairs of appendages close to the mouth. Several small, bristly, paddle-like appendages provide locomotion. Aphrodita are hermaphroditic, having functional reproductive organs of both sexes, with the eggs of one individual being fertilised by the sperm of another.[5]
Structural coloration
editThe spines, or setae[2] on the back of the animal are a unique feature. Normally, these have a deep red sheen. But when light shines on them perpendicularly, they flush green and blue – a "remarkable example of photonic engineering by a living organism". This structural coloration is a defense mechanism, giving a warning signal to potential predators. The effect is produced by many hexagonal cylinders within the spines, which are said to perform much more efficiently than man-made optical fibres.[6]
Feeding
editAphrodita are typically scavengers.[2] However, Aphrodita aculeata is an active predator,[7] feeding primarily on small crabs, hermit crabs, and other polychaete worms such as Pectinaria.[7]
Species
editSpecies recognized by the World Register of Marine Species:[1]
- Aphrodita abyssalis Kirkegaard, 1996
- Aphrodita aculeata Linnaeus, 1758
- Aphrodita acuminata Ehlers, 1887
- Aphrodita alta Kinberg, 1856
- Aphrodita annulata Pennant, 1777
- Aphrodita aphroditoides (McIntosh, 1885)
- Aphrodita armifera Moore, 1910
- Aphrodita audouini Castelnau, 1842<'small>
- Aphrodita australis Baird, 1865
- Aphrodita bamarookis Hutchings & McRae, 1993
- Aphrodita bisetosa Rozbaczylo & Canahuire, 2000
- Aphrodita brevitentaculata Essenberg, 1917
- Aphrodita californica Essenberg, 1917
- Aphrodita clavigera Freminville, 1812
- Aphrodita daiyumaruae Imajima, 2005
- Aphrodita decipiens (Horst, 1916)
- Aphrodita defendens Chamberlin, 1919
- Aphrodita diplops Fauchald, 1977
- Aphrodita echidna Quatrefages, 1866
- Aphrodita elliptica
- Aphrodita falcifera Hartman, 1939
- Aphrodita goolmarris Hutchings & McRae, 1993
- Aphrodita hoptakero Otto in Audouin & Milne Edwards, 1832
- Aphrodita japonica Marenzeller, 1879
- Aphrodita kulmaris Hutchings & McRae, 1993
- Aphrodita limosa (Horst, 1916)
- Aphrodita longicornis Kinberg, 1855
- Aphrodita longipalpa Essenberg, 1917
- Aphrodita macroculata Imajima, 2001
- Aphrodita magellanica Malard, 1891
- Aphrodita malayana (Horst, 1916)
- Aphrodita malkaris Hutchings & McRae, 1993
- Aphrodita maorica Benham, 1900
- Aphrodita marombis Hutchings & McRae, 1993
- Aphrodita mexicana Kudenov, 1975
- Aphrodita modesta Quatrefages, 1866
- Aphrodita negligens Moore, 1905
- Aphrodita nipponensis Imajima, 2003
- Aphrodita obtecta Ehlers, 1887
- Aphrodita parva Moore, 1905
- Aphrodita perarmata Roule, 1898
- Aphrodita refulgida Moore, 1910
- Aphrodita rossi Knox & Cameron, 1998
- Aphrodita roulei Horst, 1917
- Aphrodita scolopendra Bruguière, 1789
- Aphrodita sericea Castelnau, 1842
- Aphrodita sibogae (Horst, 1916)
- Aphrodita sondaica Grube, 1875
- Aphrodita sonorae Kudenov, 1975
- Aphrodita talpa Quatrefages, 1866
- Aphrodita terraereginae Haswell, 1883
- Aphrodita tosaensis Imajima, 2001
- Aphrodita watasei Izuka, 1912
References
edit- ^ a b Fauchald, Kristian; Bellan, Gérard (2008). "Aphrodita Linnaeus, 1758". World Polychaeta database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d "sea mouse". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
- ^ Kennedy, Jennifer (1 October 2019). "Profile of the Sea Mouse Ocean Worm". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ Warren, Rebecca; van Zyl, Miezan; O'Rourke, Ruth; Tokeley, Amber; Heilman, Christine, eds. (2006). "Ocean Life". Ocean: The World's Last Wilderness Revealed (first American ed.). New York City: DK Publishing. p. 276. ISBN 978-0-7566-2205-3.
- ^ "Sea Mouse". Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- ^ "Sea mouse promises bright future". BBC News. BBC. January 3, 2001. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
- ^ a b Tyler, Lizzie. "BIOTIC Species Information for Aphrodita aculeata". Biological Traits Information Catalogue. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
External links
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