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<p><i>Ficopomatus enigmaticus</i> (Fauvel, 1923) is a serpulid annelid known for its invasiveness and its ability to build large reef-like aggregations in warm-temperate mesohaline coastal waters worldwide. <i>Ficopomatus enigmaticus</i> has a characteristic fig-shaped operculum adorned with chitinous, inward-curving spines. The arrangement of the spines on the opercular surface is dimorphic: in some worms, the spines are only arranged around the perimeter, whereas in others, they cover the entire operculum. Here, we examine whether opercular spine arrangement is related to the individual’s mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) genotype, sex, or body size. Our data suggests that none of these three characteristics is related to opercular spine arrangement. The underlying causes of the opercular dimorphism are currently unknown. There is no indication that it has any taxonomic significance.</p>

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Opercular dimorphism in Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Annelida: Serpulidae): cytochrome b genotype, sex, or size do not explain opercular spine arrangement

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月30日

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  • Vanessa Fernandez-Rodriguez,
  • Roberto Ponce,
  • Malia Haines,
  • Anja Schulze,
  • Elena Kupriyanova,
  • Bruno Pernet

摘要

Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Fauvel, 1923) is a serpulid annelid known for its invasiveness and its ability to build large reef-like aggregations in warm-temperate mesohaline coastal waters worldwide. Ficopomatus enigmaticus has a characteristic fig-shaped operculum adorned with chitinous, inward-curving spines. The arrangement of the spines on the opercular surface is dimorphic: in some worms, the spines are only arranged around the perimeter, whereas in others, they cover the entire operculum. Here, we examine whether opercular spine arrangement is related to the individual’s mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) genotype, sex, or body size. Our data suggests that none of these three characteristics is related to opercular spine arrangement. The underlying causes of the opercular dimorphism are currently unknown. There is no indication that it has any taxonomic significance.