Spio filicornis

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Spio filicornis	Common name	Bristleworm
MCS Code	P790	Recent Synonyms	None
Phylum	Annelida	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Polychaeta
Subclass		Order	Spionida
Suborder		Family	Spionidae
Genus	Spio	Species	filicornis
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Fauchald, 1977
General Biology
Growth form	Vermiform segmented, Tubicolous	Feeding method	Surface deposit feeder, Sub-surface deposit feeder
Mobility/Movement	Burrower	Environmental position	Infaunal
Typical food types	Detritus	Habit	Tubiculous
Bioturbator	Not researched	Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Not relevant	Growth Rate	Data deficient
Adult dispersal potential	100-1000m	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information	None entered
Biology References	Hayward & Ryland, 1990
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Spio filicornis is found on most British coasts.
Global distribution	Spio filicornis is found in the Arctic, Baltic, north-east Atlantic, Mediterranean and north Pacific.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	None entered
Substratum preferences	Coarse clean sand, Fine clean sand, Mud, Muddy sand	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Strait / sound, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Lower Eulittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral	Wave exposure	Sheltered, Very Sheltered, Extremely Sheltered, Ultra Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Weak (<1 kn), Very Weak (negligible)	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu), Variable (18-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information	None entered
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	III
Distribution References	Picton & Costello, 1998, JNCC, 1999, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic
Reproductive Season	January to September	Reproductive Location	Adult burrow
Reproductive frequency	Annual protracted	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	1 year	Age at reproductive maturity	<1 year
Generation time	<1 year	Fecundity	400
Egg/propagule size	85 µm diameter	Fertilization type	Insufficient information
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential >10km Larval settlement period Insufficient information Duration of larval stage 2-10 days
Additional Information	Reproduction Srikrishnadhas & Ramamoorthi (1981) investigated the life history of Spio filicornis in the laboratory. Their findings are summarised below: The spindle shaped egg mass was laid inside the worm's tube, stuck to the side of the tube with mucus produced by the female. Within 12 hours, the eggs metamorphosed into trochophores (larvae) which were retained inside the egg mass. After 36 hours three segments were faintly marked. After thee days the larvae broke free of the egg mass and became pelagic. Once the juvenile worm had 18-22 chaetigers (segments) it settled, metamorphosed, and burrowed into the sand where it built a tube of sand and detritus bound together with mucus. Worms were sexually mature 2 months after metamorphosis.
Reproduction References	Srikrishnadhas & Ramamoorthi, 1981, Diaz-Castaneda et al., 1989, Eckert, 2003