| Capitella capitata (Fabricius, 1780). Family Capitellidae | ||||
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Capitella capitata [Click photo for picture page] 
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| Habitat: | Intertidal. Soft shore. Enclosed harbours and sheltered bays. Fine muddy sand Infaunal. Depth range: 0-1 (m). Salinity regime: Estuary-like variation. Microhabitat: Upper- to mid- shore, near surface Tube: impermanent meandering burrows | |||
| Occurrence: | Common to abundant. Density: 1000-3000 (m2).
Distribution in NZ: New Zealand wide | |||
| Feeding guild: | Data unavailable. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Genus Capitella in Family Capitellidae.
A species complex. This description applies to a small New Zealand estuarine species of unpolluted locations. Prostomium oval, eyespots rare. Nine thoracic segments, all with chaetae. Capillaries first 5 chaetigers only (less often range 3-7, age dependant), hooded hooks thereafter except rarely in males when dorsal genital spines present, 2 pair on 8, 1 pair on 9. Colour: None. Pale body only coloured by blood cells. Maximum size: 10 mm total length, 0.3 mm body width. |
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| Notable aspect: | Blunt rounded prostomium. | |||
| Comparisons: | Confusable with oligochaetes (in which chaetae are single), and Heteromastus filiformis (pointed prostomium, anal cirrus, more anterior region chaetigers) | |||
| Taxonomy: | This taxon represents a complex of morphologically similar or identical species (mostly unnamed). Much larger individuals occur at NZ organically-enriched subtidal environments, with capillaries on first 7 chaetigers, and males with up to 6 pairs of genital spines. These may be another species. | |||
| Distribution: | Unknown. However the Capitella capitata complex is world-wide. | |||
| Biology: | A mid- to upper-shore species in fine sand to mud. Reproduction with large yolky eggs, probably with minimal or no planktonic dispersal, probably year-round with short lifespan (multivoltine), with population densities fluctuating with environmental conditions. | |||
| Best References: | Biology: No recommendation. Taxonomy: Warren (1976) A review of the genus Capitella (Polychaeta Capitellidae). Journal of Zoology, London 180:195-209. | |||
| More information: |
Synonyms, NZ records | Original figures | Original description details | |
| Genus diagnosis | More pictures | Further references (biology, etc) | Family Capitellidae | |
| Internet sources: |
GOOGLE Search | AlltheWeb Search | CISTI | CBIF BiOSC Gateway | GOBASE Molecular | GenBank | Genus only in GenBank | | |||
| Genus only in Ubio Taxonomic Name Server | PubMed | Scirus | Zoological Record | | ||||
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