Loimia medusa

(Redirected from Medusa worm)

Loimia medusa, commonly known as the spaghetti worm or medusa worm,[1] is an aquatic species of annelid belonging to the family Terebellidae.[2]

Loimia medusa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Clade: Sedentaria
Order: Terebellida
Family: Terebellidae
Genus: Loimia
Species:
L. medusa
Binomial name
Loimia medusa
(Savigny, 1822)

Description

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Loimia medusa has long bluish white feeding tentacles that give the appearance of spaghetti noodles under any kind of rubble or rocks.[3] Under those rocks, it has a body that is surrounded by a tube consisting of bits of shell and gravel,[4] creating a tube that has a tough membranous lining with segments. The body can grow to be about 12 in (300 mm) long, while the tentacles can grow to twice that length.[5]

Distribution and habitat

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Loimia medusa prefers tropical oceans, such as the Indo-Pacific and the Western Central Atlantic,[6] including reefs off of the Hawaiian Islands.[7]

Its habitat includes spaces such as tidepools, brackish waters, and bays that consist of rubble.[6] They can also be found in sand and coral reefs in the deeper waters across the Hawaiian islands.[8]

Cultural significance

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In Hawai'i, Loimia medusa is known as the Kauna'oa. During the Old Hawai'i times, this invertebrate was used for medicinal purposes.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Kaplan, Eugene Herbert (1999). A Field Guide to Coral Reefs. Houghton Mifflin. p. 139. ISBN 9780618002115. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  2. ^ WoRMS. "Loimia medusa (Savigny, 1822)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  3. ^ Devaney, M. (1987). Reef and Shore Fauna of Hawai'i. Bishop Museum Press. pp. 401, 402. ISBN 0-930897-11-0.
  4. ^ a b "Project Aloha 'Āina". Ulukau: The Hawaiian Electronic Library. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  5. ^ Edmondson, Charles (1987). Reef and Shore Fauna of Hawai'i. Bishop Museum Press. p. 401. ISBN 0-930897-11-0.
  6. ^ a b "Loimia medusa (Savigny, 1818)". Sealife Base. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  7. ^ Stender, Keoki; Stender, Yuki. "Loimia Medusa". Marine Life Photography. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  8. ^ Hoover, John (1999). Hawai'i's Sea Creatures: A Guide to Hawaii's Marine Invertebrates. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-56647-220-3.