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Banded Caseworm

Diopatra cuprea

Photo by Tracey-lee
Published on Project Noah
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-29.8298, 30.9691

Field Notes

Description:

Diopatra is a genus of polychaete worms in the family Onuphidae.
Members of this genus live in thick parchment-like tubes that project from the sediment on the seabed. The tubes are covered on the outside by fragments of shell, pieces of algae and other small objects, collected by the worm and stuck in place by mucous. The worm ambushes small invertebrates that come too close by darting partially out of the tube and grasping the prey with their maxillae and mandibles. Their large anterior parapodia help them to immobilize the prey

Habitat:

Salt water - Mostly seabed . +/- 30m depth

Interesting article on research :
http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/183/m183p169.pdf

Notes:

Approximate length of this specimen was about 10cm but the are listed as growing up to 20cm

LINKS:
Interesting article on research :
http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/183/m183p169.pdf

Two Oceans: A Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa

Reference Links:

Diopatra, WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Diopatra cuprea (Bosc, 1802)

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (9)
Tracey-lee
Found it ( thanks to my friend , Camilla Floros PhD Scientist – Reef Programme,Oceanographic Research Institute South African Association for Marine Biological Research) Diopatra cuprea , common name, banded case worm Diopatra is a genus of polychaete worms in the family Onuphidae.
Christine Y.
I asked a former grad school professor of mine (he's an aquatic entomologist) about your discovery, and he sent me this link: http://trichopterology.blogspot.com/2008/09/chathamiidae-marine-caddisflies.html He said that since he's unfamiliar with marine caddisflies and whether they would be present in your area, he has no idea if this is in fact a caddisfly given the conditions, even though it appears to be one. I hope your friend can help!
Tracey-lee
definitely Hmmmm ..... but which one !!! ( i am waiting for a Marine scientist friend of mine to see if she can give me name ......watch this space !!!
Christine Y.
Wow, that is quite deep. As far as I know, there are only a couple known caddisfly species that tolerate saltwater. Could me some kind of aquatic worm? Hmmm.
Tracey-lee
Hi there , thanks so much for your suggestion but Im not so sure if it is a lava, as these are at depths of 30m? From what i read up on your link the Caddisfly is more above water than below and seems to prefer fresh water habitat ??
Christine Y.
Also, If it's a caddisfly, they are insects, so you could move this spotting to Arthropods...

Spotted for Missions

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Global Coral Reef Monitoring
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Mimetic Animals of the World
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Mollusca

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Photographed
PublishedJune 5, 2013

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