Leddormer: Sabellidae. Leddormer: Polynoidae.
  • Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike | Maël Grosse

Sabellids are tubeworms that can project the feathery radioles outside of their soft tube. These radioles branchiae resemble a fan or a feather duster. They are used for breathing and to capture food particles from the water column. They may vary in size from a few millimetres up to 40 cm. Generally, they are found both on hard and in soft bottoms.

Sabellidae Latreille, 1825
Creative Commons Attribution | Maria Capa | University of the Balearic Islands
  • Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike | Photos A and C-F | Arne Nygren | Photo B | Mael Grosse

Polynoids are a very diverse group of benthic marine worms. They are characterised by having simple chaetae both in the noto- and neuropodia, and the dorsum is covered by scales, often brightly pigmented, alternating with dorsal cirri. Because of these scales, they are called scale worms. They are carnivorous or omnivorous and several species are commensal with other organisms.

Polynoidae Kinberg, 1856
Creative Commons Attribution | Arne Nygren | Institutionen för marina vetenskaper, Göteborgs Universitet