Aphrodita

For the Ancient Greek goddess, see Aphrodite.
Aphrodita
Aphrodita aculeata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Polychaeta
Order: Phyllodocida
Suborder: Aphroditoidea
Family: Aphroditidae
Genus: Aphrodita
Linnaeus, 1758[1]
Type species
Aphrodita aculeata
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

See text

Dorsal view, removed from water

Aphrodita, or sea mouse, is a genus of marine polychaete worms found in the Mediterranea sea and the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean.[2]

Etymology

The name of the genus is taken from Aphrodite, the Ancient Greek goddess of love. This is because, when viewed ventrally, the animal resembles a human female's genitalia. The English name may either have a similar meaning, or may derive from the supposed resemblance to a bedraggled mouse when washed up on shore.[3]

Description

The body of the sea mouse is covered in a dense mat of setae (hairlike structures).[2] Adults generally fall within a size range of 7.5 to 15 centimetres (3.0 to 5.9 in), but some grow to 30 centimetres (12 in).

Structural coloration

Further information: Structural coloration

The spines, or setae,[2] on the scaled back of the sea mouse are one of its unique features. Normally, these have a deep red sheen, warning off predators, but when the light shines on them perpendicularly, they flush green and blue, a "remarkable example of photonic engineering by a living organism". This structural coloration is a defense mechanism, giving a warning signal to potential predators. The effect is produced by many hexagonal cylinders within the spines, which "perform much more efficiently than man-made optical fibres".[4]

Feeding

Aphrodita are typically scavengers.[2] However, Aphrodita aculeata is an active predator,[5] feeding primarily on small crabs, hermit crabs and other polychaete worms including Pectinaria and Lumbriconereis.[5]

Species

Species recognized by the World Register of Marine Species:[1]

  • Aphrodita abyssalis Kirkegaard, 1996
  • Aphrodita aculeata Linnaeus, 1758
  • Aphrodita acuminata Ehlers, 1887
  • Aphrodita alta Kinberg, 1856
  • Aphrodita annulata Pennant, 1777
  • Aphrodita aphroditoides (McIntosh, 1885)
  • Aphrodita armifera Moore, 1910
  • Aphrodita audouini Castelnau, 1842<'small>
  • Aphrodita australis Baird, 1865
  • Aphrodita bamarookis Hutchings & McRae, 1993
  • Aphrodita bisetosa Rozbaczylo & Canahuire, 2000
  • Aphrodita brevitentaculata Essenberg, 1917
  • Aphrodita californica Essenberg, 1917
  • Aphrodita clavigera Freminville, 1812
  • Aphrodita daiyumaruae Imajima, 2005
  • Aphrodita decipiens (Horst, 1916)
  • Aphrodita defendens Chamberlin, 1919
  • Aphrodita diplops Fauchald, 1977
  • Aphrodita echidna Quatrefages, 1866
  • Aphrodita elliptica
  • Aphrodita falcifera Hartman, 1939
  • Aphrodita goolmarris Hutchings & McRae, 1993
  • Aphrodita hoptakero Otto in Audouin & Milne Edwards, 1832
  • Aphrodita japonica Marenzeller, 1879
  • Aphrodita kulmaris Hutchings & McRae, 1993
  • Aphrodita limosa (Horst, 1916)
  • Aphrodita longicornis Kinberg, 1855
  • Aphrodita longipalpa Essenberg, 1917
  • Aphrodita macroculata Imajima, 2001
  • Aphrodita magellanica Malard, 1891
  • Aphrodita malayana (Horst, 1916)
  • Aphrodita malkaris Hutchings & McRae, 1993
  • Aphrodita maorica Benham, 1900
  • Aphrodita marombis Hutchings & McRae, 1993
  • Aphrodita mexicana Kudenov, 1975
  • Aphrodita modesta Quatrefages, 1866
  • Aphrodita negligens Moore, 1905
  • Aphrodita nipponensis Imajima, 2003
  • Aphrodita obtecta Ehlers, 1887
  • Aphrodita parva Moore, 1905
  • Aphrodita perarmata Roule, 1898
  • Aphrodita refulgida Moore, 1910
  • Aphrodita rossi Knox & Cameron, 1998
  • Aphrodita roulei Horst, 1917
  • Aphrodita scolopendra Bruguière, 1789
  • Aphrodita sericea Castelnau, 1842
  • Aphrodita sibogae (Horst, 1916)
  • Aphrodita sondaica Grube, 1875
  • Aphrodita sonorae Kudenov, 1975
  • Aphrodita talpa Quatrefages, 1866
  • Aphrodita terraereginae Haswell, 1883
  • Aphrodita tosaensis Imajima, 2001
  • Aphrodita watasei Izuka, 1912

References

  1. 1 2 Fauchald, Kristian; Bellan, Gérard (2008). "Aphrodita Linnaeus, 1758". World Polychaeta database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "sea mouse". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  3. ↑ Warren, Rebecca; van Zyl, Miezan; O'Rourke, Ruth; Tokeley, Amber; Heilman, Christine, eds. (2006). "Ocean Life". Ocean: The World's Last Wilderness Revealed (first American ed.). New York City: DK Publishing. p. 276. ISBN 978-0-7566-2205-3.
  4. ↑ "Sea mouse promises bright future". BBC News. BBC. January 3, 2001. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  5. 1 2 Tyler, Lizzie. "BIOTIC Species Information for Aphrodita aculeata". Biological Traits Information Catalogue. Retrieved 24 December 2014.

External links

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