Sabellidae
Sabellidae, or feather duster worms, are a family of marine polychaete tube worms characterized by protruding feathery branchiae. Sabellids build tubes out of a tough, parchment-like exudate, strengthened with sand and bits of shell. Unlike the other sabellids, the genus Glomerula secretes a tube of calcium carbonate instead. Sabellidae can be found in subtidal habitats around the world. Their oldest fossils are known from the Early Jurassic. Characteristics Feather-duster worms have a crown of feeding appendages or radioles in two fan-shaped clusters projecting from their tubes when under water. Each radiole has paired side branches making a two-edged comb for filter feeding. Most species have a narrow collar below the head. The body segments are smooth and lack parapodia. The usually eight thoracic segments bear capillaries dorsally and hooked chaetae (bristles) ventrally. The abdominal segments are similar, but with the position of the capillaries and chaetae reversed. The posterior few abdominal segments may form a spoon-shaped hollow on the ventral side. Size varies between tiny and over 10 cm (4 in) long. Some small species can bend over and extend their tentacles to the sea floor to collect detritus. Genera The following genera belong to the family: Amphicorina Amphiglena Anamobaea Aracia Bispira Branchiomma Chone Claviramus Clymeneis Desdemona Dialychone Euchone Eudistylia Euratella Fabricia Fabriciola Glomerula Haplobranchus Hypsicomus Jasmineira Laonome Manayunkia Megalomma Myxicola Notaulax Novafabricia Oriopsis Panoumethus Panousea Parasabella Perkinsiana Potamethus Chamberlin, 1919 Potamilla Pseudobranchiomma Pseudofabricia Pseudofabriciola Pseudopotamilla Sabella Sabellastarte Sabellomma Sabellonga Schizobranchia Terebrasabella References External links Potamilla reniformis MBL Marine Organisms Database page Sabellida Annelid families