Family Pectinariidae

Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)
Pectinariidae (collected from Tathong Channel).  Dorsal view of anterior region; other part inside a sandy tube. Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)

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Pectinariidae

Pectinariidae (collected from Tathong Channel).  Dorsal view of entire worm.

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Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)
Pectinariidae (collected from Tathong Channel).  Dorsal view of anterior region.

Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)

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Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)
Pectinariidae (collected from Tathong Channel).  Ventral view of anterior region. Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)

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Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)
Pectinariidae (collected from Tathong Channel).  Dorsolateral view of posterior region. Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)
Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)
Pectinariidae (collected from Tathong Channel).  Ventrolateral view of posterior region. Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)

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Sandy tube of Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)
Sandy tube of Pectinariidae (collected from Tathong Channel). Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)

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Setae of Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)
Setae at abdominal region of Pectinariidae. Setae of Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)

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Setae of Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)
Setae at abdominal region of Pectinariidae. Setae of Pectinariidae (Click to enlarge)

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Order Terebellida
Family Pectinariidae

Features
Body: trumpetshaped; divided into three regions: thorax, abdomen and a posterior scaphe
Head: first setiger with a thick freshy operculum and expanded, strong setae (paleae) forming a comb for digging
Prostomium: reduced
Eye: 2
Antennae: absent
Cirri: 4
Palp: 2
Pharynx: absent
Parapodium: uniramous or biramous
Setea: short capillaries, pectiniform uncini and scaphal spines
(Fauchald 1977)

Biological Notes
        The characteristic of pectinariids is the first setiger with strongly golden, coppery or brassy paleal setae which is used for burrowing.   Pectinariids are deposit feeders.   They build conical and chimney-shaped tube which is made of sand grains, sponge spicules, foraminiferan shells or shell fragments.   The tube is quite free, open at both ends and buried in the sand,   Only the open tip of the tube projects above the surface of the sand.   The respiratory current is drawn down the tube over the tail of the worm and along the body to the gills.   The mouth is surrounded by numerous grooved buccal tentacles for gathering food particles buried in the sand and construction of the tube (Day 1967).


Genera and Species Reported in Hong Kong

Lagis bocki
Lagis koreni

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