Amphinomidae, also known as the fireworms, bristle worms or sea mice,[2] are a
family of marine polychaetes, many species of which bear
chaetae mineralized with carbonate.[3] The best-known amphinomids are the fireworms, which can cause great pain if their toxin-coated chaetae are touched or trodden on.[4] Their relationship to other polychaete groups is somewhat poorly resolved.[4]
It was previously known that handling the fireworm caused it to release a chemical that induces
inflammation of the skin of marine predators and mammals (including humans). Complanine was the first compound isolated from the fireworm which causes these effects.[5][6] It is presumed that this compound's function is to deter predators of the fireworm.
Species
Most genera in Amphinomidae are divided into two subfamilies: Amphinominae, and Archinominae.[7][a]
^A
binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than the present genus.
References
^Pleijel, F.; Rouse, G. W.; Vannier, J. (2004). "Carboniferous fireworms (Amphinomida : Annelida), with a discussion of species taxa in palaeontology". Invertebrate Systematics. 18 (6): 693.
doi:
10.1071/IS04003.
^Barroso, R. M.; Paiva, P. C. (2010). "A new deep-sea species of Chloeia (Polychaeta: Amphinomidae) from southern Brazil". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 91 (2): 419.
doi:
10.1017/S0025315410001499.
S2CID87982759.
^
abWiklund, H.; Nygren, A.; Pleijel, F.; Sundberg, P. (2008). "The phylogenetic relationships between Amphinomidae, Archinomidae and Euphrosinidae (Amphinomida: Aciculata: Polychaeta), inferred from molecular data". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK. 88 (3): 509–513.
doi:
10.1017/S0025315408000982.
S2CID84732410.
Amphinomidae, also known as the fireworms, bristle worms or sea mice,[2] are a
family of marine polychaetes, many species of which bear
chaetae mineralized with carbonate.[3] The best-known amphinomids are the fireworms, which can cause great pain if their toxin-coated chaetae are touched or trodden on.[4] Their relationship to other polychaete groups is somewhat poorly resolved.[4]
It was previously known that handling the fireworm caused it to release a chemical that induces
inflammation of the skin of marine predators and mammals (including humans). Complanine was the first compound isolated from the fireworm which causes these effects.[5][6] It is presumed that this compound's function is to deter predators of the fireworm.
Species
Most genera in Amphinomidae are divided into two subfamilies: Amphinominae, and Archinominae.[7][a]
^A
binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than the present genus.
References
^Pleijel, F.; Rouse, G. W.; Vannier, J. (2004). "Carboniferous fireworms (Amphinomida : Annelida), with a discussion of species taxa in palaeontology". Invertebrate Systematics. 18 (6): 693.
doi:
10.1071/IS04003.
^Barroso, R. M.; Paiva, P. C. (2010). "A new deep-sea species of Chloeia (Polychaeta: Amphinomidae) from southern Brazil". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 91 (2): 419.
doi:
10.1017/S0025315410001499.
S2CID87982759.
^
abWiklund, H.; Nygren, A.; Pleijel, F.; Sundberg, P. (2008). "The phylogenetic relationships between Amphinomidae, Archinomidae and Euphrosinidae (Amphinomida: Aciculata: Polychaeta), inferred from molecular data". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK. 88 (3): 509–513.
doi:
10.1017/S0025315408000982.
S2CID84732410.