Polychaeta
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Polychaetes | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() "A variety of marine worms": plate from Das Meer by M. J. Schleiden (1804–1881).
|
|||||||
Scientific classification | |||||||
|
|||||||
|
Polychateta (more commonly called Polychaetes, or bristle worms) are a class of annelids. They are generally found in a marine environment. Each of their body segments has some fleshy protrusions that stand out. These protrusions usually have many bristles, which are made of chitin. There are more than 10.000 known species in this class. It is different from the Oligochaeta. Oligochaeta are similar in design, but only have a few bristles. Common animals of the group are the lugworm, and the clam worm Nereis (which is sometimes also called sandworm).