More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
Optimized for viewing on desktop or laptop
Segmented Worms of Zihuatanejo
PHYLUM ANNELIDA
Acromegalomma Feather Duster Worms
Acromegalomma (Genus)
-Segmented Worms (Phylum Annelida)
-Polychaete Worms (Class Polychaeta)
-Sedentary and Tube-dwelling Bristleworms (Subclass Sedentaria)
-Infraclass Canalipalpata
-Order Sabellida
-Feather Duster Worms (Family Sabellidae)
-Subfamily Sabellinae
-Genus Acromegalomma
Features a prominent, fan-shaped radiolar crown composed of feather-like filaments used for feeding and respiration. The worm’s body is elongated and soft, housed within a tough, parchment-like tube that it secretes. Commonly inhabits coral reefs, rocky substrates, and sandy bottoms, where it attaches its tube to hard surfaces. A filter feeder, it uses its radiolar crown to capture plankton and organic particles from the water column. The filaments are covered in cilia that transport food to the mouth.
Description
• Acromegalomma is a genus of marine polychaete worms in the family Sabellidae, commonly known as feather-duster worms. They have segmented bodies and a crown of feathery tentacles used for filter-feeding and gas exchange. The tentacles are often marked with distinctive bands or eye-like spots, and the crown can be rapidly withdrawn into a protective tube when disturbed.
Range
• Species of Acromegalomma occur in marine waters in tropical and temperate regions. The genus is present in the coastal waters of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico, where these worms live attached to submerged surfaces.
Habitat
• These worms inhabit shallow and deeper marine environments, living in tubes attached to rocks, coral, shells and other hard surfaces. Some species also occur on artificial structures and other stable underwater substrates. They extend their tentacle crowns into the water to feed, retreating into their tubes when threatened.
Diet
• Acromegalomma species are suspension feeders that capture microscopic plankton, bacteria and fine organic particles from the water using their feathery tentacles and mucus-coated surfaces.