Motile inverts... Polychaetes, tube anemones... beh.  11/28/07
Hi Bob,
<Nancy>
I've posed this question to Anthony Calfo and he suggested that I contact you as well.
<Okay>
What, if anything, can you tell me about the motility of medusa/spaghetti worms (i.e., Loimia medusa and Eupolymnia crassicornis) and tube dwelling anemones (Arachnanthus nocturnus)?
<I have observed the former to be marginally capable of movement, the latter (Actinarian) not at all>
Are they actually motile? I've only found sketchy info on the Web that suggests that spaghetti worms may be motile and Anthony mentioned (which I've also seen), that the worms will move if they need to for life support, etc.
There's a need to determine whether or not they are typically motile in order to include or exclude them in a benthic survey.
<Mmm, I spent some time as an undergrad. sorting and identifying (mainly Sedentariate Polychaetes) for such assays... for USD Marine Studies Labs and Wendell Gayman's Sea Science Services...>
I'm leaning towards inclusion since they are capable of moving, but thought that you may enlighten us a bit more on the subject matter.
<I too would include these... they move little to not at all>
Thank you in advance for your help.
Kind regards,
Nancy
<Welcome, Bob Fenner>