Lanice conchilega

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Lanice conchilega	Common name	Sand mason
MCS Code	P1195	Recent Synonyms	None
Phylum	Annelida	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Polychaeta
Subclass		Order	Terebellida
Suborder		Family	Amphitritinae
Genus	Lanice	Species	conchilega
Subspecies
Additional Information	No text entered
Taxonomy References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996
General Biology
Growth form	Tubicolous, Vermiform segmented	Feeding method	Passive suspension feeder, Active suspension feeder, Surface deposit feeder, Sub-surface deposit feeder
Mobility/Movement	Swimmer, Crawler, Burrower	Environmental position	Infaunal
Typical food types	Detritus	Habit	Tubiculous
Bioturbator	Not researched	Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Medium-large(21-50cm)
Height	Insufficient information	Growth Rate	Insufficient information
Adult dispersal potential	100-1000m	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information	Sociability Lanice conchilega can be found as a solitary individual or in populations of several thousand per m2. Feeding Buhr & Winter (1977) suggested that Lanice conchilega is unlikely to be just a surface deposit feeder as the fringed ends of its tube form an extensive network meaning that detritus will be trapped in the fringe. They suggest that feeding method is density dependant. At low densities (several dozen individuals per m2) Lanice conchilega will preferentially deposit feed. At high densities (several thousand individuals per m2) competition at the sediment surface will force animals to adopt suspension feeding.
Biology References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996, Buhr & Winter, 1977, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Heidi Tillin, unpub data, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Lanice conchilega is found around all coasts of Britain and Ireland.
Global distribution	Lanice conchilega is found from the Arctic to the Mediterranean, in the Arabian Gulf and the Pacific.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	Hartmann-Shröder (1971; cited in Carey, 1987) reported that Lanice conchilega was found from the low water neap tide mark down to 1700m.
Substratum preferences	Coarse clean sand, Sandy mud, Fine clean sand, Muddy sand	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Estuary, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Lower Eulittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral, Circalittoral Offshore, Bathybenthic (Bathyal)	Wave exposure	Moderately Exposed, Sheltered, Very Sheltered, Extremely Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately Strong (1-3 kn), Weak (<1 kn), Very Weak (negligible)	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu), Variable (18-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	II
Distribution References	Carey, 1987, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996, Beukema, 1990, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic, Lecithotrophic
Reproductive Season	April to October	Reproductive Location	Water column
Reproductive frequency		Regeneration potential	No
Life span	Insufficient information	Age at reproductive maturity
Generation time	Insufficient information	Fecundity	160,000 eggs
Egg/propagule size	150 µm diamter	Fertilization type	External
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential >10km Larval settlement period Insufficient information Duration of larval stage 1-2 months
Additional Information	Reproduction Adult Lanice conchilega were seen to release gametes over several hours in June 1991 (Ansell, 1995). Kuhl (1972) remarked that the larvae of Lanice conchilega occur from April to October. The larvae spend up to 60 days in the plankton, so that larvae could potentially disperse over a great distance, depending on the hydrographical regime.
Reproduction References	Kuhl, 1972, Ansell, 1995, Eckert, 2003, Heidi Tillin, unpub data, Julie Bremner, unpub data, McHugh, 1993