Honeycomb worm

Description:

Tube-dwelling polychaetes with cylindrical bodies divided into three parts. The head end has modified chaetae set in up to 3 concentric rings to form a stopper for the tube; this is followed by 2 segments with reduced chaetae plus 3-4 other segments ; the abdominal region is composed of about 30 segments with parapodia. A slender terminal region is present. The length of this species is up to 4cm. The body has 32-37 segments.

Habitat:

In tubes arranged in colonies and made of large sand grains and encrusting rocks and shells from lower shore downward. The tubes are arranged in close proximity and have a distinctive honeycomb-like appearance. Found on hard substrata on exposed, open coasts with moderate to considerable water movement where sand is available for tube building. Typically on the bottom third of the shoreline but also in the shallow sub-tidal. If the tubes are exposed during low tide, the worms will survive by plugging the entrance with a cover to avoid drying out or being eaten by other animals.

Notes:

These living reefs provide a habitat for other shore-dwelling animals and seaweeds, such as anemones, snails, shore crabs and seaweeds such as sea lettuce.