Cirriformia capensis, commonly known as the orange thread-gilled worm, is a species of marine polychaete worm in the family Cirratulidae.[1]

Cirriformia capensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Clade: Sedentaria
Order: Terebellida
Family: Cirratulidae
Genus: Cirriformia
Species:
C. capensis
Binomial name
Cirriformia capensis
(Schmarda, 1861)

Description edit

Orange thread-gilled worms grow to up to 10 cm in total length. They are soft bodied worms which lie buried in sand or mud or between mussels. Only the long tangled orange gills and soft food gathering tentacles are visible.[2]

Distribution edit

These animals are found off the southern African coast from Angola to Durban in South Africa and are found subtidally to 20m underwater.[2]

Synonyms edit

The following species are synonyms of Cirriformia capensis:[1]

  • Cirratulus australis Stimpson, 1856 (subjective synonym)
  • Cirratulus capensis Schmarda, 1861 (objective synonym)

References edit

  1. ^ a b "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Cirriformia capensis (Schmarda, 1861)". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  2. ^ a b Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0