The mouth, which includes a pair of jaws and a pharynx, is located underneath the head.Īlthough simple, the bristle worm’s circulatory system is relatively well developed for an annelid and consists of two main blood vessels, along with smaller vessels that provide blood to the digestive system and parapodia.īecause most species feature blood vessels that contract to move the blood, there’s no need for a heart. However, some species are totally blind, while others feature large, more well-developed eyes with lenses.Īlso located on the head are a pair of antennae, appendages known as pedipalps and a pit-like nuchal organ that helps the animal detect food. The bristle worm’s highly-developed head features between two and four pairs of eyes that can typically distinguish only light from dark. The segments also include bristles known as chaetae that are formed of a material that makes up the exoskeletons of arthropods. Smaller species, however, breathe through their general body surfaces. In addition to a means of movement, the parapodia serve as respiratory organs in larger species. The bristle worm’s cylindrical-shaped segmented body features a pair of fleshy leg-like appendages known as parapodia on each segment. Most aquarium species range from 3 to 8 inches in length, although some may grow as long as 2 feet. From microscopic in size to more than 50 feet long, bristle worms are found worldwide in habitats ranging from cold to hot. Fewer than 200 species live in freshwater. Of the more than 10,000 species of bristle worms, also spelled bristleworms, over 98 percent live in saltwater. Dropsy In Fish: Your Guide To Symptoms & TreatmentĮarthworms and leeches are also included in this phylum, so just think of the bristle worm as a type of marine-dwelling earthworm.Why Is My Goldfish Turning White? All Possible Causes.Why Your Betta Fish Is Laying At The Bottom Of The Tank.
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