PHYLUM ANNELIDA

INTRODUCTION
Includes three groups of animals formenrly given
status as separate phyla: POGONOPHORANS
(now called siboglinids), ECHIURANS, and
SIPUNCULANS. [morphological, developmental,
gene-sequence data]
Defining Characteristic:
a. One or more pairs
setae/chaetae

of

chitinous

Ringed worms/unsegmented worms

Latin annulus = ring
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
15,500 described species (including ragworms,
earthworms, and lugworms)
Body wall
Consists of well developed, segmentally
arranged muscles used for crawling and
swimming movements.
(exlcuding sipunculans) all sp. possess at
least one pair of chitinous bristles called
SETAE or CHAETAE.
Functions of setae:
(a) Grip the soil
(b) Hold the animal in a tube
(c) Increase surface areas of appendages for
swimming
All are vermiform.
OUTER BODY WALL locomotion; surface used
for gas exchange
EPIDERMIS- protective cuticle (secretes mucus
and permeable both to water and gas) (thats
why annelids are restricted to moist
environment)
Segmented Bodies
METAMERISM / METAMERIC SEGMENTATION Consists of a series of repeating cylindrical
segments and organ systems (metameres)
METAMERES each metameres consists of a
section of the body wall and a compartment
of the body cavity w/ its internal organs.
Body consists of a HEAD region, a TRUNK
region (made up of metameres); and an
unsegmented
terminal
region
called
PYGIDIUM.

In primitive
members,
metameres
are identical
(each
containing
the
same
structure)
In
more
advanced
members,
there is a
tendency of
consolidation and a restriction of some
organs to particular segments.
FOSSILS not common; scarce for
earthworms; none for leeches; tubedwelling polychaetes have been found.
SEPTA- separates individual annelid
segments; mesodermally derived tissue
(peritoneum)
Functions:
a. Isolate coelomic fluid
b. Allow localized deformation of
outer body wall (w/ is brought
about by the contractions of the
circular
and
longitudinal
musculature within a single
segment
Excretory System
Generally occurs by means of nephridia
(little kidneys)
In many sp. ducts leading from gonadal
tissue merge with the nephridial tubule
NEPHRIDIUM functions both for
discharging of gametes and urine.
METANEPHRIDIUM a type of nephridia
that opens at both ends; forms narrow
tubes that curl around the coelom.
Functions:
a. Osmoregulation
b. Excretion
*Coelomic fluid is drawn into the
nephridium at the nephrostome by the
action of cilia. As the fluid passes through
the convoluted tubule of nephridium,
some substances (amino acid, salt, water)
may be selectively reabsorbed and some
(metabolic wastes) may be actively
secreted into the lumen of the tubule.
Respiratory System
some aquatic annelids have thin-walled,
feathery gills through which gases are
exchanged between the blood and the
environment.

 No special organs for gas exchange; gas

exchange occurs directly through the body
wall.
Digestive System
Consists of an unsegmented gut that
runs through from the mouth, to the
middle of the body, to the anus (pygidium)
Circulatory System
Usually closed w/ is confined within a
well-developed blood vessels
Partly-opened in some polychaetes and
soem leeched (w/ blood and coelomic fluid
mixing directly in the sinuses of the body
cavity)
Blood usually contains hemoglobin (red
oxygen-carrying pigment); some have
green oxygen-carrying pigment; some
have unpigmented blood.
Nervous System
Consists of a primitive brain (or
ganglionic mass), located in the head
region. (supra-pharyngeal ganglia)
Primitive brain is connected by a ring of
nerves to a ventral nerve cord that runs
the length of the body; the cord gives rise
to the lateral nerves and ganglia in each
segment.
Reproduction
Sexual or asexual
Sexual
reproducing:
mostly
hermaphrodites, some gonochoristic
Marine annelid eggs: develop into a
free-swimming larvae
Terrestrial eggs: enclosed or forms a
coccoon and hatch as miniature versions
of the adult
Ability to regenerate (in many polychaetes
and digochaetes)
Earthworms
are
simultaneous
hermaphroditeseach individual produces
both eggs and sperm at the same time.
Sperm is released through a male genital
pore and is received by the female genital
pore. After mating, two individuals
separate. Each secretes a thick ring of
mucus from its clitellum.
3 MAJOR GROUPS:
POLYCHAETA marine worms
OLIGOCHAETA

earthworms
and
freshwater worms
HIRUDINAE leeches
*OLIGOCHAETA + HIRUDINAE = CLASS
CLITELLATA
TERMS TO REMEMBER:

Setae/chaetae
Pogonophorans (siboglinids), echiurans,
sipunculans
Metamerism (metameres)
Head, trunk, pygidium
Septa
Metanephridium
(nephrostome,
nephridiopore)
Thin-walled feathery gills
Unsegmented gut
Closed circulatory system (usually)
Hemoglobin;
green
oxygen-carrying
pigment; unpigmented blood
Primitive brain / ganglionic mass
Sexual or asexual
(mostly)
hermaphrodites:
(some)
gonochoristic
Marine fertilized eggs: free-swimming
larvae
Terrestrial eggs: coccoon
Regeneration
CLASS POLYCHAETA
Defining characteristic:
a. Paired lateral outfoldings of the
body wall (parapodia)
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
PARAPODIA series of thin, flattened
outgrowths; impt in species identification
- increase
animals
surface area available
for gas exchange
- aid
in
locomotion
(stiffened
by
the
chitinous support rods
called ACICULA)
Approx. 70% of the annelid species
Nearly ALL are marine (more than
8,000); some found in freshwater and
brackish water.
Brilliant colors; some iridescent
Possess: one pair of eyes and at least one
pair of sensory appendages (tentacles) on
the protostium (anterior part of the
body)
SETAE calcareous bristles that protrude
from each parapodium
SEPTA enables the hydrostatic skeletal
system to function independently in each
segment
ELYTRA (in some sp) body is covered by
a series of overlapping protective plates.
Locomotion

 Oblique muscles maintain body turgor;

operates the parapodia (used as oars for
locomotion thru water)
Longitudinal muscles run along the
anterior-posterior axis
- When
muscles
contract, this tends to
make
the
segment
shorter.
Circular muscles form a ring around
each segment
- When they contract,
the diameter becomes
shorter and thus the
segment
become
longer.
Using longitudinal and circular muscles,
earthworms can force their bodies thru the
soil by making one part of the body
long and skinny and another short
and thick.
Power and Recovery Stroke (Nereis
virenis- errant)

General Body Anatomy

2
GROUPS
(based on the mode of existence):
A. ERRANTIA (Errant Polychaetes)
- swim, crawl, tunnel through surface
sediments
- Nereis (familiar polychaete usually
used as a bait)
- predators on small invertebrates
-scavengers,
carnivorous,
(some
suspension, detritus feeders, omnivores)
- first few body segments bear cirri
(sensory projections); remaining body
segment bear parapodia (conspicuos
leglike appendage)
- Head region: eyes, tentacles, nuchal
organ (thought to detect chemicals)

- proboscis: protrusible structure found

in the anterior end of the gut;
(soometimes) equipped with chitinous
jaws, used in feeding.
- setae of some polychaetes are
composed of calcium carbonate rather
than chitin.
B.
SEDENTARIA
(Sedentary
Polychaetes)
- live permanently in tube or burrow
- some attach themselves to rocks or
piers
- many sedentary poly, just like
Arenicola, live in
burrows in sand or mud.
- Majoriy are tube builder.
- TUBES: (of diff sp.) vary greatly in
composition and structure; sand, shell,
held together by mucus, organic
substances;
straight,
branched,
spiraled, U-shaped.
- Cistenides, moves about the seafloor,
dragging its tube of sand grains
- Greatly modified head region (for
specialized feeding habits):
Lugworms thin-walled, jawless
proboscis (used to draw sand into
the gut where organic matter is
removed)
Others- feeding tentacles (picking
up organic deposits)
Others- filter feeders, have a
crown
of
feathery
ciliated
tentacles (used to sweep small
planktonics organisms)
- Reduced parapodia
- Hooked setae (help worm hold itself to
the wall of its tube)
Reproduction
(some sp) exclusive sexual
(Mostly) gonochoristic
Gametes produced by peritoneal
tissue
Epitoky:
morphological
transformation (in preparation for
reproduction)
Epitoke: result of the epitoky,
sexually mature male or female,
highly specialized for swimming and
sexual reproduction.
A. Reproductive modules (epitokes)
are budded, one segment at a time
from the posterior portion of the
original animal (atoke-mother)
B. Some involve the remodelling of
remodelling of preexisting

structures (rather than budding

off the new segment)
External fertilization
Free-living embryo develops a
digestive system and 2 rings of
cilia.
PROTOTROCH theses are rings
that are located anterior to the
mouth; major locomotory organ of
larva
METATROCH third band of cilia
(between wheel)
TELOTROCH located posteriorly
on the terminal portion (becomes
pygidium)
Trochophore- the larva; meaning
wheel bearer
(some produce) Non-feeding ,
shortlived trochophore stage that
subsists on the yolk reserves,
swims, metamorphoses.
(Some) lack any free living
larval stage in the life history and
regenerate missing parts.
TERMS TO REMEMBER:
Parapodia
remodelling
of
pre Acicula
existing
structures
Nearly ALL marine
prototroch
Septa
metotroch
Elytra
telotroch
Errant polychaete
pygidium
Calcium
carbonate
setae
trochophore larva
Nereis
oblique
muscles
Cirri
longitudinal
muscles
Proboscis
circular muscles
Sedentary polychaete peritoneal tissue
Tube-builders
Arenicola
Cistenides
Modified head region
Reduced parapodia
Hooked setae
Sexual reproduction
Gonochoristic
External fertilization
Epitoky
Epitoke

FAMILY
SIBOGLINIDAE
pogonophora)

(formerly

Defining characteristic:
a. Gut
tissue
(Endoderm)
forms
an
organ
(trophosome)
which

becomes
filled
with
chemosynthetic bacteria
b. Segmentation is confined
to a small rear portion of
the animal (opisthosoma)
Subfamily Frenulata
Subfamily Vestimentifera (Obturata) =
vestimentiferans
ALL MARINE
170 described
Tube-dwelling polychaetes (sedentary, but
can move up and down from their tube)
No shallow-water species
Body bears little hint of Annelid affinity
Originally declares DEUTEROSTOMES.
Anteriormost region : CEPHALIC LOBE,
BEARD (from one to many thousands of
ciliated tentacles), GLANDULAR AREA
(secretes a chitinous tube w/in the animal
spends its life)
Trunk : longest part of siboglinid body,
body wall contains outer circular and inner
longitudinal muscles
: often marked by a large number of
papillae (small bumps), two regions of
ciliation and two conspicuous rings of
setae
: unsegmented and body wall is not
septate.
(coelomic cavity) : contains two major
organs, (1) gonads, and (2) trophosome
a multilobed organ w/ contains closely
packed bacteria that is said to play a
major role in siboglinid nutrition.
Opisthosoma a posterior body region
-Approx. 6-25 segments
containing a coelomic
compartment
Functions:
a. Digging in the sediment
b. Anchoring the animal on its
chitinous tube
Digestive system
NONE
Hypothesis: tentacle found on the anterior
most part bear numerous microvilli and
secretory cells. Tentacle trap the food
particles and digested externally
Hypothesis: take up dissolved organic matter
(DOM)
Frenulates (Perviata)
Largest siboglinid group (140 sp. in 5
families)
Resemble a long, thin, threadlike
Ratio of surface area to volume is high,
increasing the likelihood that the surface

area can play a major role in taking up

dissolved nutrients from water
Tubes are open at both ends and (evidence
indicates) are permeable to DOM.
All are infaunal (they live w/ most of the
body implanted into substrate)
DOM play a major role in nutritional biology
of siboglinids
Lacks vestimentum and obturaculum
Has a secondary body region w/ bears a
structure called frenulum
Trocophore does not ingest particulate
food
Vestimentifermans (obturata)
18 sp among 5 families
Vestimentum posterior to the plume of the
tentacles
Obturaculum solid, flat-topped anterior
stucture
-Supports the respiratory plume
and acts as a plug
Trunk lack setae
More extensive trophosome
Have a paired ophistosomal ceolomic cavities
Rings of chaetae (uncini)
Osedax genus of worms is specialized for
extracting organic matter from the bones
of decomposing mammals; found mostly on
whales; females lack opisthosoma; males
reduced in size; may have 100 dwarf males
in their bodies.
History
Hydrothermal vents characteristics of
rifts, small opening in the new crust that
emit hot seawater rich in reduced
inorganic cmpds (hydrogen sulfide and
methane); Riftia pachyptila and Ridgeia
spp (live upright in blind-ended tubes
attached to a solid rock directly in the
path of this outflow.

Seep communities restricted to welldefined areas where hypersaline sulfide

and methane-containing water seeps up
through the sediment
Decomposing bodies of dead whalesanother site rich in hydrogen sulfide
Nutrition
Chemosynthesis (rather than
photosynthesis)
Reproduction and development
Gonochoristic
(in some sp), dwarf males live within the
bodies of females
Spiral cleavage, polar lobes
Trocophore larvae
Some coelomic compartments formed by
schizocoely

The Echiurans