Golfingia vulgaris (Blainville, 1827)

Common name(s): Peanut worm
Synonyms:
Class Sipunculidea
Order Sipunculida
Family Golfingiidae
Golfingia vulgaris found in soft bottom at 120 m depth west of Yellow Island, San Juan Channel, WA.  The anterior end with the introvert is to the right.
(Photo by: Dave Cowles, July 2007)
Description: The tentacles of this species are unbranched, small and fingerlike, and are arranged in 1-2 circles around the mouth.  The introvert does not have dark blotches and streaks nor a row of hooks near its anterior end, and its length is less than half the body length.  The skin is very rough and dark brown (photo).  Has 4 retractor muscles.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Phascolosoma agasssizi has an introvert with dark streaks and blotches, plus its tentacles are in a crescent dorsal to the mouth. Golfingia pugettensis has smooth, light-colored skin and a longer introvert.

Geographical Range:

Depth Range:

Habitat:

Biology/Natural History:  There are many subspecies of this species, widely distributed.
The genus name Golfingia was created by E. Ray Lankester to celebrate a holiday he spent golfing at Saint Andrews in 1885.


 
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References:

Dichotomous Keys:
  Kozloff 1987, 1996
 
 
 

General References:
 

Scientific Articles:

Web sites:

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


This closeup of the skin shows the rough, brown texture.


Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2007):  Created original page
CSS coding for page developed by Jonathan Cowles (2007)