Virginie Zajdel, Frankreich
Info
Phoronis psammophila is not only a very widespread tubeworm, it also occurs in very large numbers in its habitats, between 18,000 to 20,000 worms have been counted per square meter.
Phoronis psammophila lives in soft substrates at depths ranging from intertidal to 69 meters.
In particular, this species prefers a sediment structure composed mainly of fine and very fine sand fractions (58 to 93%), with a moderate muddy fraction (8 to 41%).
In Cypriot waters in the Mediterranean Sea, Posidonia oceanica forms dense meadows to a depth of about 40 m, where it harbors the tubeworm Phoronis psammophila.
Colonies of Phoronis psammophila often occur in larger mussel populations of mussels (Mytilus, Melina, Modiolus), pepper clams (Abra), clams (Venus, Pitar) also together with Pachicerianthus worms.
Colonies of Phoronis psammophila were also found in kelp grass (Cymodocea nodosa) and in Zostera and Posidonia beds.
Our special thanks for the first photo of Phoronis psammophila goes to Virginie Zajdel, France
Synonyms:
Actinotrocha architecta (Andrews, 1890)
Actinotrocha ashworthi Selys-Longchamps, 1907
Actinotrocha hatscheki Selys-Longchamps, 1907
Actinotrocha metschnikoffi Selys-Longchamps, 1907
Actinotrocha psammophila (Cori, 1889)
Actinotrocha sabatieri (Roule, 1899)
Actinotrocha wilsoni Selys-Longchamps, 1907
Phoronis architecta Andrews, 1890
Phoronis sabatieri Roule, 1890
Phoronis psammophila lives in soft substrates at depths ranging from intertidal to 69 meters.
In particular, this species prefers a sediment structure composed mainly of fine and very fine sand fractions (58 to 93%), with a moderate muddy fraction (8 to 41%).
In Cypriot waters in the Mediterranean Sea, Posidonia oceanica forms dense meadows to a depth of about 40 m, where it harbors the tubeworm Phoronis psammophila.
Colonies of Phoronis psammophila often occur in larger mussel populations of mussels (Mytilus, Melina, Modiolus), pepper clams (Abra), clams (Venus, Pitar) also together with Pachicerianthus worms.
Colonies of Phoronis psammophila were also found in kelp grass (Cymodocea nodosa) and in Zostera and Posidonia beds.
Our special thanks for the first photo of Phoronis psammophila goes to Virginie Zajdel, France
Synonyms:
Actinotrocha architecta (Andrews, 1890)
Actinotrocha ashworthi Selys-Longchamps, 1907
Actinotrocha hatscheki Selys-Longchamps, 1907
Actinotrocha metschnikoffi Selys-Longchamps, 1907
Actinotrocha psammophila (Cori, 1889)
Actinotrocha sabatieri (Roule, 1899)
Actinotrocha wilsoni Selys-Longchamps, 1907
Phoronis architecta Andrews, 1890
Phoronis sabatieri Roule, 1890
