Alexander Semenov, Russland
Info
Alitta virens (M. Sars, 1835)
Originally, these worms were classified as belonging to the genus Nereis, but were then moved to the genus Alitta.
These marine worms live buried in the sand in all northern countries, where they survive the ebb tide.
When the water returns, they come out of their holes and eat everything they can find.
When they reach sexual maturity, their rear parapods (worm feet) develop and they can swim. At night, they swim to the surface to mate and then die.
Alitta worms are bred industrially because they are very suitable as fishing bait.
They are available live in fishing shops and are a very good supplementary food for aquariums. If you want to keep them, you need a sandy bottom with plenty of height, as the burrow is built vertically.
Caution: These worms can bite!
Synonyms:
Neanthes virens (M. Sars, 1835) · unaccepted (superseded subsequent combination)
Nereis (Alitta) virens M Sars, 1835 · unaccepted (superseded combination)
Nereis (Neanthes) paucidentata Treadwell, 1939 · unaccepted (subjective synonymy of a primary...)
Nereis (Neanthes) varia Treadwell, 1941 · unaccepted (subjective synonymy of replacement name)
Nereis (Neanthes) virens Sars, 1835 · unaccepted (superseded combination)
Nereis virens Sars, 1835 · unaccepted (superseded original combination)
Nereis yankiana Quatrefages, 1866 · unaccepted (subjective synonym)
Biota > Animalia (Kingdom) > Annelida (Phylum) > Polychaeta (Class) > Errantia (Subclass) > Phyllodocida (Order) > Nereidiformia (Suborder) > Nereididae (Family) > Nereidinae (Subfamily) > Alitta (Genus) > Alitta virens (Species)
Originally, these worms were classified as belonging to the genus Nereis, but were then moved to the genus Alitta.
These marine worms live buried in the sand in all northern countries, where they survive the ebb tide.
When the water returns, they come out of their holes and eat everything they can find.
When they reach sexual maturity, their rear parapods (worm feet) develop and they can swim. At night, they swim to the surface to mate and then die.
Alitta worms are bred industrially because they are very suitable as fishing bait.
They are available live in fishing shops and are a very good supplementary food for aquariums. If you want to keep them, you need a sandy bottom with plenty of height, as the burrow is built vertically.
Caution: These worms can bite!
Synonyms:
Neanthes virens (M. Sars, 1835) · unaccepted (superseded subsequent combination)
Nereis (Alitta) virens M Sars, 1835 · unaccepted (superseded combination)
Nereis (Neanthes) paucidentata Treadwell, 1939 · unaccepted (subjective synonymy of a primary...)
Nereis (Neanthes) varia Treadwell, 1941 · unaccepted (subjective synonymy of replacement name)
Nereis (Neanthes) virens Sars, 1835 · unaccepted (superseded combination)
Nereis virens Sars, 1835 · unaccepted (superseded original combination)
Nereis yankiana Quatrefages, 1866 · unaccepted (subjective synonym)
Biota > Animalia (Kingdom) > Annelida (Phylum) > Polychaeta (Class) > Errantia (Subclass) > Phyllodocida (Order) > Nereidiformia (Suborder) > Nereididae (Family) > Nereidinae (Subfamily) > Alitta (Genus) > Alitta virens (Species)
