Alitta virens (common names includesandworm,sea worm, andking ragworm; olderscientific names, includingNereis virens, are still frequently used) is anannelid worm thatburrows in wet sand and mud. They construct burrows of different shapes (I,U,J and Y)[2] They range from being very complex to very simple. Long term burrows are held together by mucus. Their burrows are not connected to each other; they are generally solitary creatures. The spacing between the burrows depends on how readily they can propagate water signals.[2]
Sandworms make up a large part of the live sea-bait industry. To fulfill the needs of this industry, some sandworms are commercially grown.[4] Sandworming, the harvesting of sandworms from mudflats, employs over 1,000 people inMaine, US. As of 2006[update], the population of sandworms had diminished greatly over the preceding few years due in large part tooverharvesting before the worms are able to reproduce byspawning.[5] Sandworms are also essential to the study of the investigation of metal uptake in marine biology.[6] They are vital to evaluate the effects of metals in marine organisms.[7]
Sandworms eatseaweed andmicroorganisms. Sandworms are known to be omnivores. Their diet consists of surface sediment, plant and animal remains. They are oftentimes exposed to metals through their diet and their burrowing tactics.[6] They have many distinctive traits, including:
often reaching great lengths, sometimes exceeding four feet
They are large in size (approximately 30 cm more or less)[6]
Sandworms are abundant in European coasts and fiord environments.[6]
They dominate fully saline coastal areas and have large distribution along with large biomass.[7]
numerous, highly vascularizedparapodia along both sides of their bodies
blue heads with two large pincer teeth which are capable of biting humans[8]
The parapodia function both as externalgills (the animal's primary respiratory surfaces), and as means of locomotion (appearing much like short legs).[9]
Usually, sandworms aregonochoric, meaning that they reproduce sexually between the males and females of the species. Sandworms reproduce via a process termed 'swarming'. The female sandworm releases pheromones that attract males to release sperm. Then, the female sandworm ejectseggs to have them fertilized. The production ofgametes occurs via themetanephridia gland.[10]
^Cole, Victoria J.; Chick, Rowan C.; Hutchings, Patricia A. (September 2018). "A review of global fisheries for polychaete worms as a resource for recreational fishers: diversity, sustainability and research needs".Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries.28 (3):543–565.doi:10.1007/s11160-018-9523-4.
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