Class Polychaeta Notes

notes on class polychaeta

1. Phylum: AnnelidaPhylum: Annelida
Class: PolychaetaClass: Polychaeta
By Mr. “I have hair” ChapmanBy Mr. “I have hair” Chapman

2. Class: PolychaetaClass: Polychaeta
PolyPoly
–manymany
ChaiteChaite
–hairhair
Many hair animalsMany hair animals

3. Class: PolychaetaClass: Polychaeta
Live in a variety of Live in a variety of
habitatshabitats
–Ocean floorOcean floor
–Under rocks and Under rocks and
shellsshells
–Crevices of coral Crevices of coral
reefsreefs

4. Polychaeta DigestionPolychaeta Digestion
Free swimming polychaetes are Free swimming polychaetes are
predators, scavenger, and filter predators, scavenger, and filter
feeders.feeders.

6. AnnelidsAnnelids
Earthworms and polychaetes have Earthworms and polychaetes have
appendages growing from each of appendages growing from each of
the annuli called the annuli called
SetaeSetae

7. PolychaetesPolychaetes
On some On some
polychaetes the polychaetes the
(setae) are longer (setae) are longer
and are called and are called
parapodiaparapodia and are and are
used as paddles.used as paddles.
Parapodia are their Parapodia are their
most distinctive most distinctive
featurefeature

8. PolychaetesPolychaetes
Tube worms are an example of marine Tube worms are an example of marine
species that do not have paddle-like species that do not have paddle-like
appendages. appendages.

9. PolychaetesPolychaetes
Another example are Feather DustersAnother example are Feather Dusters

10. PolychaetesPolychaetes
Another example are Christmas Tree WormsAnother example are Christmas Tree Worms

11. PolychaetesPolychaetes
They burrow into the bottom as They burrow into the bottom as
larvae, but as they grow, they make larvae, but as they grow, they make
a tube, which serves as a burrow. a tube, which serves as a burrow.

12. PolychaetesPolychaetes
However the tube However the tube
is above the sea is above the sea
floor.floor.
They have setae to They have setae to
hold themselves in hold themselves in
their tube. their tube.

14. Tube WormsTube Worms
Tube is made of Tube is made of
sand, gravel and sand, gravel and
bits of shells that bits of shells that
stick to the worm’s stick to the worm’s
slime. It all slime. It all
becomes tough and becomes tough and
leathery. leathery.

15. Tube WormsTube Worms
Feathery gills Feathery gills
surround the surround the
mouth. mouth.
They form a They form a
funnel-shaped fan funnel-shaped fan
covered with cilia covered with cilia
called Radiolescalled Radioles

16. Tube WormsTube Worms
This creates a This creates a
feeding current feeding current
that draws in food.that draws in food.
Food is anything Food is anything
that is organic and that is organic and
digestable. digestable.