Scott & Jeanette Johnson, Kwajalein Unterwater
Info
Newman & Cannon, 1994
This whirlpool worm is around 5 cm long and goes in search of food at nightfall. search for food at nightfall, i.e. it preys on a variety of different invertebrates. different invertebrates.
About the coloration of the worm: The edge of the whirlpool worm is yellow, followed by a broad, dark edge stripe and then a light, cream-colored then a light, cream-colored stripe and in the middle a narrow white central stripe, white central stripe.
It may be confused with Jebb's whirlpool worm (Pseudoceros jebborum), which has a very similar color pattern. has a very similar color pattern. The visual separation of the two species is extremely difficult.
The central pale band of both species can be covered by caramel-colored mucus, so that color, which is often associated with Jebborum is not a reliable distinguishing feature of the two species.
In Pseudoceros paralaticlavus the central band is narrow, about 1/4 to 1/3
of the worm width, measured while crawling. In Pseudoceros jebborum, the central band is wider, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the worm width, measured when crawling.
The final size of both species, 70 mm in Pseudoceros paralaticlavus and only 50 mm in Pseudoceros jebborum, provides a further aid to differentiation. This means that Pseudoceros paralaticlavus is slightly larger.
This whirlpool worm is around 5 cm long and goes in search of food at nightfall. search for food at nightfall, i.e. it preys on a variety of different invertebrates. different invertebrates.
About the coloration of the worm: The edge of the whirlpool worm is yellow, followed by a broad, dark edge stripe and then a light, cream-colored then a light, cream-colored stripe and in the middle a narrow white central stripe, white central stripe.
It may be confused with Jebb's whirlpool worm (Pseudoceros jebborum), which has a very similar color pattern. has a very similar color pattern. The visual separation of the two species is extremely difficult.
The central pale band of both species can be covered by caramel-colored mucus, so that color, which is often associated with Jebborum is not a reliable distinguishing feature of the two species.
In Pseudoceros paralaticlavus the central band is narrow, about 1/4 to 1/3of the worm width, measured while crawling. In Pseudoceros jebborum, the central band is wider, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the worm width, measured when crawling.
The final size of both species, 70 mm in Pseudoceros paralaticlavus and only 50 mm in Pseudoceros jebborum, provides a further aid to differentiation. This means that Pseudoceros paralaticlavus is slightly larger.
Reproduction:
The whirlworm can reproduce both asexually and sexually. This species is hermaphroditic, meaning that it has both male and female reproductive organs. When two whirlworms reproduce, they fight to decide who will be fertilized and who will be the fertilizer. The winner gets to act as the male individual and fertilize the other.
This whirlpool worm is around 5 cm long and goes in search of food at nightfall. search for food at nightfall, i.e. it preys on a variety of different invertebrates. different invertebrates.
About the coloration of the worm: The edge of the whirlpool worm is yellow, followed by a broad, dark edge stripe and then a light, cream-colored then a light, cream-colored stripe and in the middle a narrow white central stripe, white central stripe.
It may be confused with Jebb's whirlpool worm (Pseudoceros jebborum), which has a very similar color pattern. has a very similar color pattern. The visual separation of the two species is extremely difficult.
The central pale band of both species can be covered by caramel-colored mucus, so that color, which is often associated with Jebborum is not a reliable distinguishing feature of the two species.
In Pseudoceros paralaticlavus the central band is narrow, about 1/4 to 1/3
of the worm width, measured while crawling. In Pseudoceros jebborum, the central band is wider, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the worm width, measured when crawling.
The final size of both species, 70 mm in Pseudoceros paralaticlavus and only 50 mm in Pseudoceros jebborum, provides a further aid to differentiation. This means that Pseudoceros paralaticlavus is slightly larger.
This whirlpool worm is around 5 cm long and goes in search of food at nightfall. search for food at nightfall, i.e. it preys on a variety of different invertebrates. different invertebrates.
About the coloration of the worm: The edge of the whirlpool worm is yellow, followed by a broad, dark edge stripe and then a light, cream-colored then a light, cream-colored stripe and in the middle a narrow white central stripe, white central stripe.
It may be confused with Jebb's whirlpool worm (Pseudoceros jebborum), which has a very similar color pattern. has a very similar color pattern. The visual separation of the two species is extremely difficult.
The central pale band of both species can be covered by caramel-colored mucus, so that color, which is often associated with Jebborum is not a reliable distinguishing feature of the two species.
In Pseudoceros paralaticlavus the central band is narrow, about 1/4 to 1/3of the worm width, measured while crawling. In Pseudoceros jebborum, the central band is wider, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the worm width, measured when crawling.
The final size of both species, 70 mm in Pseudoceros paralaticlavus and only 50 mm in Pseudoceros jebborum, provides a further aid to differentiation. This means that Pseudoceros paralaticlavus is slightly larger.
Reproduction:
The whirlworm can reproduce both asexually and sexually. This species is hermaphroditic, meaning that it has both male and female reproductive organs. When two whirlworms reproduce, they fight to decide who will be fertilized and who will be the fertilizer. The winner gets to act as the male individual and fertilize the other.
