These strange worms are a type of鈥痯olychaete鈥痺orm that belong to the family鈥疦ereididae鈥痗ommonly known as clam worms.鈥疨olycheate鈥痺orms鈥痑re听set apart from other marine worms by bristles (known听as鈥痗heate)听on听their parapodia that they use to move and burrow into the sand. Parapodium is鈥痑鈥疓reek鈥痺ord which translates鈥痠nto鈥痯ara鈥�beside鈥�+鈥痯辞诲颈补鈥�feet.鈥疍uring mating cycles, which occur at night鈥痙uring the鈥痩ate spring鈥痑nd鈥痚arly summer, their parapodia enlarge so they can swim greater distances to find mates.鈥疶hese events are triggered by the鈥痩unar鈥痗ycle, so that鈥痑ll of the clam鈥痺orms鈥痬ate鈥痑round鈥痶he same time, which increases their鈥痗hances of success.鈥疧nce the clam worms鈥痜ind鈥痬ates,鈥痶hey release their eggs or sperm, after which they鈥痙ie鈥痑nd their life cycle is complete.鈥��
Clam worms have characteristic pincher teeth made of a strong lightweight material. Their pharynx can be everted to expose their strong jaws and two long conical teeth.鈥疍espite these intimidating features this species uses their large teeth to eat seaweed and鈥痮ther small worms. In鈥痜act,鈥痶his worm is鈥痬ostly鈥痟armless, and is used often as fish bait. The bristles that these worms use听for locomotion鈥痑nd鈥痶o鈥痓urrow鈥痗an鈥痑lso鈥痓e鈥痑 defense mechanism鈥痑gainst their many鈥痯redators and鈥痶ouching the bristles鈥痮f some species鈥痗an cause a painful burning sensation.鈥��
Polychaetes鈥痑re incredibly diverse and represent the鈥痷niqueness of the鈥痚cosystems听in which听they have听been听adapted.听
UCM 1676鈥�