Tomopteris spp.

Taxon-Order: 

click on image for more illustrations

Habitat: 
Pelagic.
Size: 
8-50 mm
Diet: 
Chaetognaths, tunicates and fish larvae.
Useful Facts or Characters: 

Transparent, and possess modified paddle-like parapodia.

Natural History: 

Some species produce yellow bioluminescence.

References: 

Dales, R.P. (1957) Pelagic polychaetes of the Pacific Ocean. Bulletin of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography 7: 95-167.

Fernandez-Alamo, M.A., Sanvicente-Anorve, L., and Alatorre-Mendieta, M.A. (2003) Changes in pelagic polychaete assemblages along the California Current System. Hydrobiologia 496: 329-336.

Tebble, N. (1962) The distribution of pelagic polychaetes across the north Pacific Ocean.  Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 7: 371-492.