Dieren en planten
Invertebrates Worms Lugworms Ragworms Marenzelleria Catworm Heteromastus filiformis Fauna in tidal areas Benthic fauna
Heteromastus filiformis
size
up to 18 centimeters, with a thickness of 1 mm
color
blood red
food
bacteria living in the mudflat bottom
enemies
fish, crabs, shrimp, catworms, shorebirds
reproduction
sexual
- Dut: Rode draadworm
- Lat: Heteromastus filiformis
- Eng: Heteromastus filiformis
- Ger: Kotpillenwurm (Drahtwurm, Schnurrwurm)
- Dan: Heteromastus filiformis (capitellider)
print
- Rode draadworm, Koninklijk NIOZ, www.nioz.nl
Tekening van
Heteromastus filiformis
Heteromastus filiformis is a long thin bright red worm. The animal is filled with hemoglobin, the same pigment which colors our blood red. We use hemoglobin to carry oxygen. The worm uses it for the same reason. This allows the worm to live in parts of the mudflats where there is very little oxygen. The worm burrows itself into a vertical tunnel, head first. It eats up sand containing bacteria, its main diet. The digested sand is excreted onto the flats and looks like black-gray pills.
See also
Info
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