Peanut worms of the phylum Sipuncula from the Nha Trang Bay (South China Sea) with a key to species
Author
Adrianov, Andrey V.
Author
Maiorova, Anastassya S.
text
Zootaxa
2012
3166
41
58
journal article
45619
10.5281/zenodo.279772
32627594-388c-40b3-8481-0b241b850847
1175-5326
279772
Sipunculus nudus
Linnaeus, 1766
(
Fig. 1 A
)
Material.
Nha Trang Bay: Mung Island, depth
14–15 m
, muddy sand,
1 specimen
; Kay River mouth, intertidal,
1 specimen
; local fish-markets in Nha Trang,
10 specimens
.
Description.
Trunk
120–140 mm
in length and
10–12 mm
wide; introvert about ½ trunk length. Tentacular apparatus with four main branched stems, two dorsal
2 X
as long as ventral pair. Longitudinal musculature splits into 28–32 bands. Nephridia partially (up to 50%) attached to the body wall; nephridiopores anterior to anus. Spindle muscle originates on body wall anterior to anus.
Discussion.
The species is similar to
S. robustus
which differs by having unattached (free) nephridia.
This species is considered cosmopolitan in temperate to tropical waters. In the West Pacific it is found from
New Zealand
(Kermadek Islands) to
Japan
and is common in South
China
Sea, from South
Vietnam
to Hainan Island. Usually collected from the intertidal it has also been reported from depths of up to
2000 m
. This species prefers muddy sand, mangroves and silty sediments.