Asterophilia sp.

Photograph taken by Ken Tucker taken in Lembeh, Indonesia

Comment from Dr. Richard Willan: Polychaete worm (Syllidae). Comment from the photographer: For the Non-SeaSlug Section: an uncatalogued Asterophilia

Photo Information

Photographer
Ken Tucker
Location
Lembeh, Indonesia
Species name
Asterophilia sp.
Verified by
"Ken is right, it's a scaleworm in the family Polynoidae, genus Asterophilia. The scales are translucent so the edges don't show which makes the big papillae look as if they're directly on the body. There are two described species both of which are commensal on sea stars. The differences between the 2 are microscopic so I can't say which species this belongs to."
Comment from Leslie Harris
Ken is right, it's a scaleworm in the family Polynoidae, genus Asterophilia. The scales are translucent so the edges don't show which makes the big papillae look as if they're directly on the body. There are two described species both of which are commensal on sea stars. The differences between the 2 are microscopic so I can't say which species this belongs to.
Camera
Nikon D2x
Taken on
21 December 2006 04:18:17 pm
Posted
17 years ago
Updated
5 months ago

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EXIF Information

Camera
Nikon D2x
Date and Time
2006:11:21 16:18:17
Exposure Time
1/250
Exposure Bias
0/6
Focal Length
600/10 mm
Horizontal Resolution
Vertical Resolution
Aperture
f/29.0
ISO
100
Exposure Program
Manual
Exposure Mode
Metering Mode
Spot
Light Source
unknown
Flash
Flash did not fire
White Balance
Color Space
Uncalibrated
Software
PhotoWatermark Professional

Scientific Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumAnnelida
ClassPolychaeta
OrderAciculata
FamilyPolynoidae
SpeciesAsterophilia sp.