Deep-Sea taxon details
Spiophanes bombyx (Claparède, 1870)
131187 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:131187)
accepted
Species
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
recent only
(of ) Claparède, Édouard. (1870). Les Annélides Chétopodes du Golfe de Naples. Supplément. <em>Mémoires de la Société de physique et d'histoire naturelle de Genève.</em> 20(2): 365-542 [separate pagination at page top, continuous pagination at bottom]., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2094031
page(s): 485-487, plate XII fig. 2 [details]
page(s): 485-487, plate XII fig. 2 [details]
Description Thin and fragile bristle worm up to 60 mm long. Head features two striking horns at the front and one pointed horn at the...
Distribution S. bombyx is found at almost 50% of all stations sampled. Locally, i.e. to the west and north of the Wadden islands up to...
Distribution Spiophanes bombyx is widely spread across the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS) and reaches a high frequency of...
Distribution Saguenay Fjord, southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle banks; eastern...
Description Thin and fragile bristle worm up to 60 mm long. Head features two striking horns at the front and one pointed horn at the back. Its palps are substantial but relatively short. Four eyes, no gills. The species constructs solid tubes consisting of sand grains. The colour of the anterior end is bright pink and becomes dark red to greenish brown towards the posterior end. [details]
Distribution S. bombyx is found at almost 50% of all stations sampled. Locally, i.e. to the west and north of the Wadden islands up to...
Distribution S. bombyx is found at almost 50% of all stations sampled. Locally, i.e. to the west and north of the Wadden islands up to the Frisian Front, it is very abundant. In the central and northern part of the Oyster Ground the species is found in low densities. The distribution of S. bombyx extends far into the estuarine Delta area and it is also found in some parts of the Wadden Sea. [details]
Distribution Spiophanes bombyx is widely spread across the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS) and reaches a high frequency of...
Distribution Spiophanes bombyx is widely spread across the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS) and reaches a high frequency of occurrence in all areas. A low distribution frequency was only observed in the eastern coastal zone in the 1994-2001 period. In addition to its wide distribution pattern S. bombyx was mainly found in high densities (1976-1986 period: up to 1,500 ind./m2; 1994-2001 period: up to
12,000 ind./m2). In short, S. bombyx is one of the most common species on the BPNS. [details]
12,000 ind./m2). In short, S. bombyx is one of the most common species on the BPNS. [details]
Distribution Saguenay Fjord, southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle banks; eastern...
Distribution Saguenay Fjord, southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle banks; eastern boundary: eastern Bradelle Valley), Magdalen Islands (from Eastern Bradelle valley to the west, as far as Cape North, including the Cape Breton Channel); Prince Edward Island (from the northern tip of Miscou Island, N.B. to Cape Breton Island south of Cheticamp, including the Northumberland Strait and Georges Bay to the Canso Strait causeway); Cobscook Bay to Cape Hatteras [details]
Read, G.; Fauchald, K. (Ed.) (2025). World Polychaeta Database. Spiophanes bombyx (Claparède, 1870). Accessed through: Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2025) World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS) at: https://www.marinespecies.org/deepsea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=131187 on 2026-09-10
Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2026). World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS). Spiophanes bombyx (Claparède, 1870). Accessed at: https://www.marinespecies.org/DeepSea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=131187 on 2026-09-10
Date
action
by
original description
(of ) Claparède, Édouard. (1870). Les Annélides Chétopodes du Golfe de Naples. Supplément. <em>Mémoires de la Société de physique et d'histoire naturelle de Genève.</em> 20(2): 365-542 [separate pagination at page top, continuous pagination at bottom]., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2094031
page(s): 485-487, plate XII fig. 2 [details]
taxonomy source Radashevsky, Vasily I.; Pankova, Victoria V.; Malyar, Vasily V.; Neretina, Tatyana V.; Choi, Jin-Woo; Yum, Seungshic; Houbin, Céline;. (2020). Molecular analysis of Spiophanes bombyx complex (Annelida: Spionidae) with description of a new species. <em>PLOS ONE.</em> 15(7): e0234238: 1-54., available online at https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0234238
note: description of Spiophanes cf. bombyx from specimens from the Norwegian and North Seas and comparison to Spiophanes bombyx from the Mediterranean type locality etc. [details] Available for editors
context source (BeRMS 2020) Bio-environmental research group; Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries research (ILVO), Belgium; (2015): Macrobenthos monitoring in function of the Water Framework Directive in the period 2007-2009. [details]
context source (Deepsea) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details]
context source (Schelde) Maris, T., O. Beauchard, S. Van Damme, E. Van den Bergh, S. Wijnhoven & P. Meire. (2013). Referentiematrices en Ecotoopoppervlaktes Annex bij de Evaluatiemethodiek Schelde-estuarium Studie naar “Ecotoopoppervlaktes en intactness index”. [Reference matrices and Ecotope areas Annex to the Evaluation methodology Scheldt estuary Study on “Ecotope areas and intactness index”. <em>Monitor Taskforce Publication Series, 2013-01. NIOZ: Yerseke.</em> 35 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
context source (HKRMS) Shin, P. K. S. (1998). Biodiversity of subtidal benthic polychaetes in Hong Kong coastal waters. In: Proceedings of the Third International Conference on the Marine Biology of the South China Sea, The Marine Biology of the South China Sea (ed. Morton,B.), PP57-74. Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong., available online at https://doi.org/10.1515/9789882202153-010 [details]
basis of record Bellan, G. (2001). Polychaeta, <i>in</i>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. <em>Collection Patrimoines Naturels.</em> 50: 214-231. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Brunel, P., L. Bosse & G. Lamarche. (1998). Catalogue of the marine invertebrates of the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. <em>Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 126.</em> 405 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Delgado-Blas, Victor Hugo; Díaz-Díaz, Oscar; Viéitez Martín, José M. (2019). On the diversity of the genus Spiophanes Grube, 1860 (Annelida: Spionidae) in the Spanish peninsular coast, with descriptions of two new species. <em>Cahiers de Biologie Marine.</em> 60(4): 335-351., available online at http://application.sb-roscoff.fr/cbm/article.htm?id=42281
page(s): 340, no figures; note: additional records for Spain [details] Available for editors
additional source Fauchald, K.; Granados-Barba, A.; Solís-Weiss, V. (2009). Polychaeta (Annelida) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 751–788 in D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds.). <em>Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters, and Biota. Volume 1, Biodiversity.</em> Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas., available online at https://books.google.es/books?id=CphA8hiwaFIC&lpg=PR1&pg=PA751 [details]
additional source Fauvel, P. (1927). Polychètes sédentaires. Addenda aux errantes, Arachiannélides, Myzostomaires. <em>Faune de France Volume 16. Paul Lechevalier. Paris.</em> 1-494., available online at http://www.faunedefrance.org/bibliotheque/docs/P.FAUVEL(FdeFr16)Polychetes-sendentaires.pdf [details]
additional source Fauvel, Pierre. (1916). Annélides polychètes des Iles Falkland recueillies par M. Rupert Vallentin Esq<sup>re</sup> (1902-1910). <em>Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale.</em> 55(10): 417-482, plates VIII-IX., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6316033 [details]
additional source Hartman, O. (1951). The littoral marine annelids of the Gulf of Mexico. <em>Publications of the Institute of Marine Science, Port Aransas, Texas.</em> 2(1): 7-124., available online at http://hdl.handle.net/2152/22162
page(s): 85-86 [details] Available for editors
additional source Holtmann, S.E.; Groenewold, A.; Schrader, K.H.M.; Asjes, J.; Craeymeersch, J.A.; Duineveld, G.C.A.; van Bostelen, A.J.; van der Meer, J. (1996). Atlas of the zoobenthos of the Dutch continental shelf. Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management: Rijswijk, The Netherlands. ISBN 90-369-4301-9. 243 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). , available online at http://www.itis.gov [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. <em>Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France.</em> 307 pp., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/145561.pdf [details]
additional source Pollock, L.W. (1998). A practical guide to the marine animals of northeastern North America. Rutgers University Press. New Brunswick, New Jersey & London. 367 pp., available online at http://books.google.com/books?id=i1AmT31cuR4C [details]
additional source Saint-Joseph, Arthur d'Anthoine de. (1898). Annélides polychètes des côtes de France (Manche et Océan). <em>Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie et Paléontologie, Paris.</em> Série 8, 5: 209-464, plates XIII-XXIII., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35661652
page(s): 352-354, plate XX fig. 165 [details]
additional source Trott, T. J. (2004). Cobscook Bay inventory: a historical checklist of marine invertebrates spanning 162 years. <em>Northeastern Naturalist.</em> 11, 261-324., available online at http://www.gulfofmaine.org/kb/files/9793/TROTT-Cobscook%20List.pdf [details] Available for editors
redescription Blake, J.A. 1996. Family Spionidae Grube, 1850. pages 81-223. IN: Blake, James A.; Hilbig, Brigitte; and Scott, Paul H. Taxonomic Atlas of the Benthic Fauna of the Santa Maria Basin and Western Santa Barbara Channel. 6 - The Annelida Part 3. Polychaeta: Orbiniidae to Cossuridae. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Santa Barbara [details] Available for editors
redescription Jirkov, I.A. (2001). [Polychaeta of the Arctic Ocean] (In Russian) Polikhety severnogo Ledovitogo Okeana. Yanus-K Press, Moscow, 632 pp., available online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259865957_Jirkov_2001_Polychaeta_of_the_North_Polar_Basin [details] Available for editors
page(s): 485-487, plate XII fig. 2 [details]
taxonomy source Radashevsky, Vasily I.; Pankova, Victoria V.; Malyar, Vasily V.; Neretina, Tatyana V.; Choi, Jin-Woo; Yum, Seungshic; Houbin, Céline;. (2020). Molecular analysis of Spiophanes bombyx complex (Annelida: Spionidae) with description of a new species. <em>PLOS ONE.</em> 15(7): e0234238: 1-54., available online at https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0234238
note: description of Spiophanes cf. bombyx from specimens from the Norwegian and North Seas and comparison to Spiophanes bombyx from the Mediterranean type locality etc. [details] Available for editors
context source (BeRMS 2020) Bio-environmental research group; Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries research (ILVO), Belgium; (2015): Macrobenthos monitoring in function of the Water Framework Directive in the period 2007-2009. [details]
context source (Deepsea) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details]
context source (Schelde) Maris, T., O. Beauchard, S. Van Damme, E. Van den Bergh, S. Wijnhoven & P. Meire. (2013). Referentiematrices en Ecotoopoppervlaktes Annex bij de Evaluatiemethodiek Schelde-estuarium Studie naar “Ecotoopoppervlaktes en intactness index”. [Reference matrices and Ecotope areas Annex to the Evaluation methodology Scheldt estuary Study on “Ecotope areas and intactness index”. <em>Monitor Taskforce Publication Series, 2013-01. NIOZ: Yerseke.</em> 35 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
context source (HKRMS) Shin, P. K. S. (1998). Biodiversity of subtidal benthic polychaetes in Hong Kong coastal waters. In: Proceedings of the Third International Conference on the Marine Biology of the South China Sea, The Marine Biology of the South China Sea (ed. Morton,B.), PP57-74. Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong., available online at https://doi.org/10.1515/9789882202153-010 [details]
basis of record Bellan, G. (2001). Polychaeta, <i>in</i>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. <em>Collection Patrimoines Naturels.</em> 50: 214-231. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Brunel, P., L. Bosse & G. Lamarche. (1998). Catalogue of the marine invertebrates of the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. <em>Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 126.</em> 405 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Delgado-Blas, Victor Hugo; Díaz-Díaz, Oscar; Viéitez Martín, José M. (2019). On the diversity of the genus Spiophanes Grube, 1860 (Annelida: Spionidae) in the Spanish peninsular coast, with descriptions of two new species. <em>Cahiers de Biologie Marine.</em> 60(4): 335-351., available online at http://application.sb-roscoff.fr/cbm/article.htm?id=42281
page(s): 340, no figures; note: additional records for Spain [details] Available for editors
additional source Fauchald, K.; Granados-Barba, A.; Solís-Weiss, V. (2009). Polychaeta (Annelida) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 751–788 in D.L. Felder and D.K. Camp (eds.). <em>Gulf of Mexico. Origin, Waters, and Biota. Volume 1, Biodiversity.</em> Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas., available online at https://books.google.es/books?id=CphA8hiwaFIC&lpg=PR1&pg=PA751 [details]
additional source Fauvel, P. (1927). Polychètes sédentaires. Addenda aux errantes, Arachiannélides, Myzostomaires. <em>Faune de France Volume 16. Paul Lechevalier. Paris.</em> 1-494., available online at http://www.faunedefrance.org/bibliotheque/docs/P.FAUVEL(FdeFr16)Polychetes-sendentaires.pdf [details]
additional source Fauvel, Pierre. (1916). Annélides polychètes des Iles Falkland recueillies par M. Rupert Vallentin Esq<sup>re</sup> (1902-1910). <em>Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale.</em> 55(10): 417-482, plates VIII-IX., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6316033 [details]
additional source Hartman, O. (1951). The littoral marine annelids of the Gulf of Mexico. <em>Publications of the Institute of Marine Science, Port Aransas, Texas.</em> 2(1): 7-124., available online at http://hdl.handle.net/2152/22162
page(s): 85-86 [details] Available for editors
additional source Holtmann, S.E.; Groenewold, A.; Schrader, K.H.M.; Asjes, J.; Craeymeersch, J.A.; Duineveld, G.C.A.; van Bostelen, A.J.; van der Meer, J. (1996). Atlas of the zoobenthos of the Dutch continental shelf. Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management: Rijswijk, The Netherlands. ISBN 90-369-4301-9. 243 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). , available online at http://www.itis.gov [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. <em>Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France.</em> 307 pp., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/145561.pdf [details]
additional source Pollock, L.W. (1998). A practical guide to the marine animals of northeastern North America. Rutgers University Press. New Brunswick, New Jersey & London. 367 pp., available online at http://books.google.com/books?id=i1AmT31cuR4C [details]
additional source Saint-Joseph, Arthur d'Anthoine de. (1898). Annélides polychètes des côtes de France (Manche et Océan). <em>Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie et Paléontologie, Paris.</em> Série 8, 5: 209-464, plates XIII-XXIII., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35661652
page(s): 352-354, plate XX fig. 165 [details]
additional source Trott, T. J. (2004). Cobscook Bay inventory: a historical checklist of marine invertebrates spanning 162 years. <em>Northeastern Naturalist.</em> 11, 261-324., available online at http://www.gulfofmaine.org/kb/files/9793/TROTT-Cobscook%20List.pdf [details] Available for editors
redescription Blake, J.A. 1996. Family Spionidae Grube, 1850. pages 81-223. IN: Blake, James A.; Hilbig, Brigitte; and Scott, Paul H. Taxonomic Atlas of the Benthic Fauna of the Santa Maria Basin and Western Santa Barbara Channel. 6 - The Annelida Part 3. Polychaeta: Orbiniidae to Cossuridae. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Santa Barbara [details] Available for editors
redescription Jirkov, I.A. (2001). [Polychaeta of the Arctic Ocean] (In Russian) Polikhety severnogo Ledovitogo Okeana. Yanus-K Press, Moscow, 632 pp., available online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259865957_Jirkov_2001_Polychaeta_of_the_North_Polar_Basin [details] Available for editors
Present Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
Unreviewed
Authority (de Claparède, 1870) [details]Biology The planktonic larvae of S. bombyx have been observed in the period April-December, with maximal nurnbers in May-June and August-September. The species lives in a tube that slightly protrudes from the surface. S. bombyx probably is a selective deposit feeder, but specific observations are lacking (Hartmann-Schröder, 1971; Wolff, 1973; Fauchald & Jumars, 1979; Hayward & Ryland, 1990). [details]
Description Thin and fragile bristle worm up to 60 mm long. Head features two striking horns at the front and one pointed horn at the back. Its palps are substantial but relatively short. Four eyes, no gills. The species constructs solid tubes consisting of sand grains. The colour of the anterior end is bright pink and becomes dark red to greenish brown towards the posterior end. [details]
Distribution S. bombyx is found at almost 50% of all stations sampled. Locally, i.e. to the west and north of the Wadden islands up to the Frisian Front, it is very abundant. In the central and northern part of the Oyster Ground the species is found in low densities. The distribution of S. bombyx extends far into the estuarine Delta area and it is also found in some parts of the Wadden Sea. [details]
Distribution Spiophanes bombyx is widely spread across the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS) and reaches a high frequency of occurrence in all areas. A low distribution frequency was only observed in the eastern coastal zone in the 1994-2001 period. In addition to its wide distribution pattern S. bombyx was mainly found in high densities (1976-1986 period: up to 1,500 ind./m2; 1994-2001 period: up to
12,000 ind./m2). In short, S. bombyx is one of the most common species on the BPNS. [details]
Distribution Saguenay Fjord, southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle banks; eastern boundary: eastern Bradelle Valley), Magdalen Islands (from Eastern Bradelle valley to the west, as far as Cape North, including the Cape Breton Channel); Prince Edward Island (from the northern tip of Miscou Island, N.B. to Cape Breton Island south of Cheticamp, including the Northumberland Strait and Georges Bay to the Canso Strait causeway); Cobscook Bay to Cape Hatteras [details]
Habitat Although the species has been found in a variety of sediment types, its density distribution suggests a distinct preference for fine sandy substrates. [details]
Habitat Spiophanes bombyx reaches a high relative occurrence in almost all sediment types. A relative occurrence of > 40% is reached in sediments with a median grain size of 100 to 550 μm and with a mud content of 0 to 90%. [details]
Habitat bathyal, infralittoral and circalittoral of the Gulf and estuary [details]
Morphology Like Spio filicornis, a thin and fragile species with a maximum length of 60 mm and about 180 segments. The head is T-shaped and bears two large palps and four eyes arranged in a square. The first segment has characteristic curved chaetae. Gills are absent. The dorsal lobes of the parapodia are markedly pointed. The worm is bright pink in front and darker red or greenish brown towards the posterior. The species builds stiff tubes composed of sand grains (Hartmann- Schröder, 1971; Hayward & Ryland, 1990). [details]
BIOTIC
Marine Life Information Network - UK
To Barcode of Life (27 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (58 publications)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Spiophanes bombyx)
To GenBank (12 nucleotides; 9 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To PESI
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Annelida Collection (1214 records)
To ITIS
Marine Life Information Network - UK
To Barcode of Life (27 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (58 publications)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Spiophanes bombyx)
To GenBank (12 nucleotides; 9 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To PESI
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Annelida Collection (1214 records)
To ITIS
Unreviewed
