Whale worms Flashcards
What is the genus of worms called?
Osedax (tubeworms - polychaete)
They are found on the … of … …
bones, whale carcasses
Discovered in …
2002
The female tubeworms…
bore into the marrow of the whale bones (possibly via enzymes from their symbiotic bacteria)
Whereas the … males…
dwarf, secondarily colonize the gelatinous tubes of their resident females
The males are …
paedomorphic
The number of males in a female’s tube…
increases over time
There is compelling evidence that dwarf males found in the tubes of female Osedax worms are derived from a common … … and are unlikely to be the sons of host … or the … of females in the local genetic neighbourhood
larval pool, females, progeny
This is an example of extreme … …
size dimorphism
It is suggested that this size dimorphism occurs when females are … or … … …, where it makes sense to live in close proximity to mates so as not to lose them
sedentary, hard to find
