Cheilonereis cyclurus (Harrington, 1897) Common name(s): Red-and-white-banded sea-nymph, red-and-white-banded worm, hermit worm
Synonyms:
Phylum Annelida  Class Polychaeta  Subclass Errantia  Order Phyllodocida  Family Nereididae
	Cheilonereis cyclurus in a petri dish.
	(Photo by:  Dave Cowles, July 2018)

Description:  Nereid worms (ragworms or clamworms, Family Nerididae) are motile polychaete worms. Their prostomium has a pair of palps which are differentiated into two units, the proximal of which is larger than the distal. They also usually have two prostomial  antennae. The peristomium is fused with the first body segment, and usually has 2 pairs of tentacular cirri.  The pharynx is eversible and has two regions. The distal region has one pair of strong jaws (photo). Varying numbers of scattered conical teeth (paragnaths) may be on both the distal and proximal regions of the pharynx (photo). The first body segment has 1-2 pairs of tentacular cirri which do not have aciculae. Some of the setae are compound. The notopodia are usually well-developed with flattened lobes. The notosetae are compound falcigers and/or spinigers (or rarely are absent). Most genera have no gills, but if gills are present they are typically branched and on some of the mid-sections of the body. Most are omnivores but some are active predators. They are semelparous (reproduce only once) and usually use epitokes for breeding. This species (Cheilonereis cyclurus) is a commensal with large hermit crabs and has a unique enlarged collar-like extension of the peristomium which extends around the base of the prostomium. It also has prominent white and red or pink trnasverse bands. Length to 18 cm.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: No other nereid worm (sea-nymph) has the distinctive collar on the peristomium. This appears currently to be the only species in its genus. 

Geographical Range:  Northern Alaska to southern California; NW Pacific

Depth Range:  Intertidal and subtidal

Habitat:  Commensal with hermit crabs

Biology/Natural History:  This species lives commensally with large hermit crabs

References:

General References:
  Ricketts et al., 1985

Scientific Articles:
 

Web sites:

General Notes and Observations: Locations, abundances, unusual behaviors:


Dorsal view of the head, with eyes and 4 pairs of tentacular cirri on the prostomium. The pharynx with its anterior jaws and conical paragnaths can be seen partly everted from the peristomium ventral to the prostomium. Photo by Dave Cowles, July 2018.

This ventral view of the head shows the slightly everted pharynx with the distal jaws and paragnaths and rows of proximal paragnaths. Photo by Dave Cowles, July 2018

This ventral view shows the parapodia with the rounded posterior lobe .

In this dorsal view the blood can be seen circulating through the parapodia. Note also the long, leaflike dorsal ligules. Photo by Dave Cowles, July 2018

This close-up dorsal view of the parapodium clearly shows the blood circulating through blood vessels. Photo by Dave Cowles, July 2018

Click HERE to see a movie of blood circulating in pulses through the dorsal vessel.

Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2018):  Created original page
CSS coding for page developed by Jonathan Cowles

Salish Sea Invertebrates web site provided courtesy of Walla Walla University