2012 COURSE DATES: AUGUST 4 – 17, 2012 - Sirenian International

Magnificent Feather-Duster
Sabellastarte magnifica
Sean Herbert
Ecology, Behavior and Conservation of
Manatees & Dolphins in Belize, Class of 2011
(contact: caryns@sirenian.org)
Taxonomy
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Annelida
Class Polychaeta
Order Sabellida
Family Sabellidae
Genus Sabellastarte
Species S. magnifica
Ecology
Feather duster worms inhabit reefs, mangroves,
rocks, wrecks, and sand or gravel bottoms. They
often grow from coral heads (Humann & DeLoach
2002), and in Belize, the magnificent variety is often
found attached to mangrove roots. Whatever the
substrate, they are usually found sharing the space
with various sessile animals such as sponges,
mollusks and tunicates. S. magnifica are among the
largest and most common feather dusters found in
Belize. Those who may cringe at the word ‘worm’
need not fear; their bodies remain hidden, encased in
a parchment-like tube attached to the substrate. The
worms construct their tubes using fine sand and
mucus secreted from glands just below their head.
The only visible portion of the worm is the crown of
feather-like appendages, which can be used to easily
identify magnifica because of its exclusive doublecrown
arrangement. The ‘feathers’ are usually
banded and come in a variety of colors, including
brown, tan, gold, reddish purple and white (Humann
& DeLoach 2002).
Behavior
Feather duster worms use their ‘feathers’, known
as radioles, as both gills and filters to capture
plankton – their cuisine of choice. Trapped
microscopic food is brought to its mouth at the
center of its crown of ‘feathers’ (Fitzsimons
1965). As largely sessile animals, they rely on
currents to provide them with their edible treats.
Their soft bodies remain out of sight throughout
their lives, slowly adding length to their tubes as
they mature. Their most notable behavior is the
near instantaneous retraction of their radioles back
into the tube when disturbed. The worms can
detect changes in water movement, light intensity
white (Humann & DeLoach 2002), and of course,
tactile stimulation. As such, predators are often
sucker-feeding fish . They have evolved rows of
upper-facing hooks along each segment of their
body, which allow anchoring in the event a fish
attempts to suck them out (Woodin 1987).
Conservation
Although feather dusters themselves are not
seriously threatened, many populations are subject
to ongoing anthropogenic impacts on the coral
reef and mangrove ecosystems, including, but not
limited to, pollution, increased ‘fin’ traffic as
Belizean tourism expands (reef), ocean
acidification (reef), development (mangrove), and
invasive species (Turnball & Harborne 2000).