Arctonoe vittata (Grube, 1855)

Common name(s): Scale worm.  Symbiotic scale worm, Red-banded commensal scale worm, Banded scale worm
Synonyms:  Halosydna lordi, Polynoe vittata
Phylum Annelida
 Class Polychaeta
  Order Phyllodocida
   Superfamily Aphroditidae
    Family Polynoidae
Arctonoe vittata symbiont with Diodora aspera, from Sares Head, WA.  Scale is cm divided into mm.
(Photo by: Dave Cowles, July 2006)
Description:  As with all Polynoids, this species is mostly benthic, few if any of the segments are longer than wide when contracted, the dorsal surface has clearly visible elytra, and all of the neurosetae are simple.  Arctonoe vittata has at least 30  pairs of elytra which leave a broad gap down the dorsal side of the animal (photo).  Elytra are on segments 2, 4, 5, then every other segment to 23, 26, 29, then every other segment to the end of the body.  The edges of the elytra are smooth.  It has no prominent nuchal fold and the lateral prostomial antennae are inserted slightly ventral to the edge of the prostomium, may have few or sometimes no notosetae.  Has two types of neurosetae:  those above the acicula have blunt, bifid tips, while those below the acicula are thicker and have falcate, pointed tips.  The species is usually ivory colored with several transverse stripes, especially a broad dark band (brown, reddish-brown, or blackish) across segments 7 and 8.  Can be up to 10 cm long, but usually is shorter.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species:  This is the only Arctonoe commensal scaleworm that has the broad dark band across the back.  A. pulchra is usually orange and may have fewer elytra, which nearly meet dorsally.  A. fragilis has frilly edges to the elytra.

Geographical Range:  Bering Strait south to Ecuador; Japan

Depth Range:  Middle intertidal to 275 m

Habitat:  Symbiotic with many invertebrates, including sea stars, terebellid polychaetes, gastropods such as Diodora aspera, and Cryptochiton stelleri.

Biology/Natural History:  Usually lives symbiotically with Cryptochiton stelleri, Diodora aspera, or the seastar Dermasterias imbricata.  Also may be found on Henricia leviuscula, Luidia foliata, Pteraster tesselatus, Solaster stimpsoni, Solaster dawsoni, Haliotis kamtschkana, and the terebellid worms Thelepus crispus and Neoamphitrite robusta.   Polynoids such as Arctonoe are carnivores, but do not feed on the animals with which they are symbiotic.  Frequently they nip of the heads of small tube-dwelling polychaetes as their host moves around.  Individuals taken from their hosts will generally prefer their same host species over other species they are symbiotic with.  They seem to locate their host by using chemoreceptors on their three prostomial antennae, with further recognition by contact with the peristomial palps.  Small juvenile worms are found mainly in the summer.  Generally only one worm inhabits a given host, suggesting that this species may fight over hosts as does A. pulchra.  When Pisaster ochraceous attacks Diodora aspera in which this species is living, the worm moves around the pallial groove of the limpet to the side the seastar is attacking from, reaches out, and bites the tube feet or ambulacral area of the seastar.  This frequently results in the seastar withdrawing from its attack.

Members of Family Polynoidae, unlike most other errant polychaetes, have parapodia specialized for walking rather than as paddles.  Their longitudinal muscles, which caused lateral undulations in other polychaetes, are poorly developed and they don't undulate much.  As a result, although they can walk efficiently they are poor swimmers.


 
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References:

Dichotomous Keys:
  Flora and Fairbanks, 1966
  Kozloff 1987, 1996
  Smith and Carlton, 1975

General References:
  Brusca and Brusca, 1978
  Carefoot, 1977
  Kozloff, 1993
  Morris et al., 1980
  Niesen, 1997
  O'Clair and O'Clair, 1998

Scientific Articles:
 

Web sites:
 


General Notes and Observations:  Locations, abundances, unusual behaviors:



In this closeup of the head end, the elytra which are widely spaced dorsally are visible.  An elytrum is covering the head.


Here is Arctonoe vittata as it is usually seen in its host, Diodora aspera.  Photo by Dave Cowles, July 2007
 

Ranging

Here an individual reaches out from under Diodora aspera and explores the nearby environment.  Photo at Swirl Rocks by Dave Cowles, June 2011


Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2006):  Created original page