What phylum are polychaetes in?
AnnelidPolychaete / PhylumThe annelids, also known as the ringed worms or segmented worms, are a large phylum, with over 22,000 extant species including ragworms, earthworms, and leeches. Wikipedia
How many species of polychaetes are there?
polychaete, any worm of the class Polychaeta (phylum Annelida). About 8,000 living species are known.
What do polychaetes do?
On the ocean floor, polychaetes help convert organic debris into carbon dioxide, which is transported to the surface dissolved in water. Marine plant plankton take up the carbon dioxide and through photosynthesis produce sugars, or food, releasing oxygen in the process.
What are Tubicolous polychaetes?
Tubicolous polychaetes: These are tube dwelling polychaetes. They live in temporary or permanent self-secreted tubes. These tubes act as protective covering. The tubes of various species vary greatly in form and construction.
Where are polychaetes found?
the ocean
Of the approximately 9000 species of annelids, more than 8000 are polychaetes. These segmented worms are among the most common marine organisms, and can be found living in the depths of the ocean, floating free near the surface, or burrowing in the mud and sand of the beach.
How do polychaetes help the environment?
How do polychaetes differ from earthworms?
Earthworms differ from polychaetes in that they do not have parapodia but DO possess a clitellum, which is used in reproduction. Though most live in the upper layers of the soil there are freshwater species within this group.
What differentiates polychaetes from other annelids?
Polychaetes differ from other annelids in having a well differentiated head with specialized sense organs and no clitellum. They have many setae, usually arranged in bundles on the parapodia. The head bears eyes, antennae, and sensory palps.
Do polychaetes have a respiratory system?
Respiration is entirely through the body wall in some polychaetes, and partially so in most. Many species have thin-walled extensions of the body surface, i.e., gills, used for gas exchange; most commonly the gills are extensions of the parapodia.
How many segments do polychaetes have?
Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia that bear many bristles, called chaetae, which are made of chitin. More than 10,000 species are described in this class….Polychaete.
| Polychaetes Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Class: | Polychaeta Grube, 1850 |
| Groups included |
Are polychaetes Marine?
Of the approximately 9000 species of annelids, more than 8000 are polychaetes. These segmented worms are among the most common marine organisms, and can be found living in the depths of the ocean, floating free near the surface, or burrowing in the mud and sand of the beach.
Are polychaetes terrestrial?
Underwater polychaetes have eversible mouthparts used to capture prey. A few groups have evolved to live in terrestrial environments, like Namanereidinae with many terrestrial species, but are restricted to humid areas. Some have even evolved cutaneous invaginations for aerial gas exchange.