The parapodial and segmental musculature of Harmothoë imbricata (L.).

Abstract

The segmental anatomy of Harmothoë imbricata deviates from the plan of a typical errant polychaete only slightly. The body is partitioned into 37 nonmetameric segments and is covered by 15 pairs of elytra. The segmental musculature consists of paired dorsal and ventral longitudinal muscles, pairs of dorso-ventral muscles, and in places the external surface of the worm is covered by a sheet of circularly coursing muscle fibers subjacent to the cuticle. The dorsal tubercles, elytrophores, cirratophores and ventral cirri are moved by muscles derived from segmental and intrinsic parapodial muscles. From the anatomy it is surmised that the lateral bending of the worm during swimming is due to cycles of activity involving the longitudinal muscles (S-waves). During a cycle of parapodial stepping, parapodial levators and promotors raise a parapodium from the substrate and direct it forward (the recovery stroke), at which time the muscles of the aciculum and setal sacs withdraw the neuropodial setae. During the power stroke parapodial depressors and remotors bring the tip of the parapodium against the substrate, applying a forward thrust and the neuropodial setae are extended. At the conclusion of the power stroke, the recovery stroke begins anew.