Loimia medusa explained

Loimia medusa, commonly known as the spaghetti worm, is an aquatic species of annelids belonging to the family Terebellidae.

Description

Loimia medusa has long bluish white feeding tentacles that give the appearance of spaghetti noodles under any kind of rubble or rocks.[1] Under those rocks, it has a body that is surrounded by a tube consisting of bits of shell and gravel,[2] creating a tube that has a tough membranous lining with segments. The body can grow to be about long, while the tentacles can grow to twice that length.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Loimia medusa prefers tropical oceans, such as the Indo-Pacific and the Western Central Atlantic,[4] including reefs off of the Hawaiian Islands.[5]

Its habitat includes spaces such as tidepools, brackish waters, and bays that consist of rubble.[4] They can also be found in sand and coral reefs in the deeper waters across the Hawaiian islands.[6]

Cultural significance

In Hawai'i, Loimia medusa is known as the Kauna'oa. During the Old Hawai'i times, this invertebrate was used for medicinal purposes.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Devaney . M. . Reef and Shore Fauna of Hawai'i . 1987 . 0-930897-11-0 . 401, 402 . Bishop Museum Press .
  2. Web site: Project Aloha 'Δ€ina . Ulukau: The Hawaiian Electronic Library . 8 April 2024.
  3. Book: Edmondson . Charles . Reef and Shore Fauna of Hawai'i . 1987 . 0-930897-11-0 . 401 . Bishop Museum Press .
  4. Web site: Loimia medusa (Savigny, 1818) . Sealife Base . 8 April 2024.
  5. Web site: Stender . Keoki . Stender . Yuki . Loimia Medusa . Marine Life Photography . 8 April 2024.
  6. Book: Hoover . John . Hawai'i's Sea Creatures: A Guide to Hawaii's Marine Invertebrates . 1999 . 978-1-56647-220-3 . 85.