annelid

The ragworm, lugworm, and peacock worm shown here are all marine species of annelids (segmented worms). Ragworms commonly live in mucous-lined burrows on muddy shores or under stones, and lugworms occupy U-shaped burrows. The peacock worm, however, builds a smooth, round tube from fine particles of mud.

Any segmented worm of the phylum Annelida. Annelids include earthworms, leeches, and marine worms such as lugworms.

They have a distinct head and soft body, which is divided into a number of similar segments shut off from one another internally by membranous partitions, but there are no jointed appendages. Annelids are noted for their ability to regenerate missing parts of their bodies.

A new species of polychaete (bristle) annelid, living in methane ice at a depth of 700 m in the Gulf of Mexico, was discovered in July 1997. The worms are 2-5 cm in length and pinkish in colour.