Sipunculus (Austrosiphon) indicus Peters, 1850
General description:
Mozambique (Cutler and Cutler, 1985).
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Sipuncula
Sipunculus (Austrosiphon) indicus Peters, 1850
Sipunculus (Austrosiphon) indicus Peters, 1850
General description:Type: Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt Universität, Berlin, MNHU 270 (Cutler and Cutler, 1985).
Sipunculus (Austrosiphon) indicus Peters, 1850
General description:This species may be the largest worm in this genus.It is found only in the Indo-West Pacific in shallow and warm waters and is distinguished by its white coloration.
Diagnostic description:(From Cutler and Cutler, 1985; Cutler 1994)
Introvert shorter than the trunk, 5-12% of the trunk length.
Trunk is cylindrical measuring 250-460 mm in length, with diameter of 8-15 mm. The surface of the trunk is divided into a large number of small rectangles by the intersection of the longitudinal and circular muscles.
Internal anatomy
37-43 longitudinal muscle bands (LMBs), which are continuous and do not split in the posterior glans region.
Circular muscles are continuous into the glans region.
A pair of nephridia, opening posterior to the anus, are10-20% the length of the trunk and are attached to the trunk wall for 80-100% of their length.
Spindle muscle originates from the anterior ventral surface of rectum.
Size:Body length is up to 45 cm (Cutler, 1994).
Distribution:This is an Indo-West Pacific species (Cutler and Cutler 1985).
Habitat:Shallow and warm waters (Cutler and Cutler 1985).