Osedax priapus

Osedax priapus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Polychaeta
Order: Sabellida
Family: Siboglinidae
Genus: Osedax
Rouse et al., 2004[1]
Species: O. priapus
Binomial name
Osedax priapus
Rouse et al., 2014,[2]

Osedax priapus is a species of bathypelagic Polychaetes that is reported to sustain itself on the bones of dead whales.

Description

Unlike other species of Osedax, males of this species grow to a full size and can feed independently of females, thus demonstrating reversal of sexual size dimorphism.[2][3]

References

  1. G. W. Rouse; S. K. Goffredi & R. C. Vrijenhoek (2004). "Osedax: Bone-Eating Marine Worms with Dwarf Males". Science. 305: 668–671. doi:10.1126/science.1098650. PMID 15286372.
  2. 1 2 Rouse, G. W.; Wilson, N. G.; Worsaae, K.; Vrijenhoek, R. C. (2014). "A Dwarf Male Reversal in Bone-Eating Worms". Current Biology. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.11.032.
  3. "Mega male bone worms discovered". Retrieved December 12, 2014.


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