Jenkins, Cheryl D.; Ward, Megan E.; Turnipseed, Mary; Osterberg, Joshua; Dover, Cindy Lee. (2005). The digestive system of the hydrothermal vent polychaete Galapagomystides aristata (Phyllodocidae): evidence for hematophagy?. Invertebrate Biology. 121(3): 243-254.

56312

10.1111/j.1744-7410.2002.tb00064.x [view]

Jenkins, Cheryl D.; Ward, Megan E.; Turnipseed, Mary; Osterberg, Joshua; Dover, Cindy Lee

2005

121(3): 243-254

Publication

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1744-7410.2002.tb00064.x

World Polychaeta Database (WPolyD).

Anatomical, histological, and ultrastructural investigation of the hydrothermal vent phyllodocid Galapagomystides aristata shows that this unusual polychaete has a normal mouth and foregut but a highly modified midgut with a blood-filled lumen. The foregut includes a protrusible proboscis armed distally with minute spines. Midgut tissues contain concentrically banded spherocrystals, composed mainly of iron, phosphorus, and silicon, and abundant lipid droplets. The blood-filled midgut lumen extends to the final segment of the worm, but we find no sign of an anus. There is no evidence of symbiotic bacteria in tissues of G. aristata. Stable isotope analyses indicate that G. aristata is likely to be a secondary consumer. We propose that these worms are hematophagous, although they lack many common anatomical adaptations for a blood-sucking way of life

East Pacific

Biology
Functional ecology

Annelida
Polychaeta

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