Osedax : Bone-Eating Marine Worms with Dwarf Males
Top Cited Papers
- 30 July 2004
- journal article
- other
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 305 (5684) , 668-671
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1098650
Abstract
We describe a new genus, Osedax, and two new species of annelids with females that consume the bones of dead whales via ramifying roots. Molecular and morphological evidence revealed that Osedax belongs to the Siboglinidae, which includes pogonophoran and vestimentiferan worms from deep-sea vents, seeps, and anoxic basins. Osedax has skewed sex ratios with numerous dwarf (paedomorphic) males that live in the tubes of females. DNA sequences reveal that the two Osedax species diverged about 42 million years ago and currently maintain large populations ranging from 105 to 106 adult females.Keywords
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