Bristle Worms
Bristle worms have tiny, hair-like bristles along each side. (Hans Hillewaert/Wikimedia Commons)
Bristle worms are soft, segmented worms found along shorelines, mud flats and shallow waters throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers.
More than 110 species of bristle worms have been recorded in the Chesapeake Bay. Some of these species include:
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Bloodworms, Glycera spp.
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Common clamworm, Neanthes succinea
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Capitellid threadworm, Heteromastus filiformis
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Freckled paddle worm, Eteone heteropoda
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Red-lined worms, Nephtys spp.
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Common bamboo worm, Clymenella torquata
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Trumpet worm, Pectinaria gouldii
Appearance:
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Soft, segmented bodies
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Tiny, hair-like bristles along each side
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Bristles are attached to appendages called parapodia. Each body segment has one pair of parapodia. They vary in shape depending on the species.
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Most worms have a head with eyes, antennae and sensory palps
Habitat:
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Some bristle worm species burrow or build permanent tube “homes” in mud flats along the shoreline
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Others move freely throughout the shoreline and shallow waters, sometimes building tubes and burrows that they return to
Range:
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Found throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries
Feeding:
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Eat plankton and other bits of organic matter such as algae and dead organisms
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Tube-building worms have specialized appendages to help them gather food
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
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Reproduce by releasing eggs and sperm into the water
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Larvae morph from a free-swimming stage to a segmented stage before maturing
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A few bristle worm species take care of their young
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Some bristle worms reproduce asexually by budding
Other Facts:
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Related to leeches and earthworms
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Also known as polychaetes. The class name polychaeta means “many hairs,” referring to the worms’ numerous bristles.
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Many bristle worms break apart easily when handled. They are able to regenerate the lost or damaged parts.
Sources and Additional Information:
