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Osedax: Bone-Eating Marine Worms With Dwarf Males, G W. Rouse, Shana K. Goffredi, R C. Vrijenhoek
Osedax: Bone-Eating Marine Worms With Dwarf Males, G W. Rouse, Shana K. Goffredi, R C. Vrijenhoek
Shana Goffredi
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.
Novel Forms Of Structural Integration Between Microbes And A Vent Gastropod From The Indian Ocean, Shana K. Goffredi, Anders Waren, Victoria J. Orphan, Cindy L. Van Dover, Robert C. Vrijenhoek
Novel Forms Of Structural Integration Between Microbes And A Vent Gastropod From The Indian Ocean, Shana K. Goffredi, Anders Waren, Victoria J. Orphan, Cindy L. Van Dover, Robert C. Vrijenhoek
Shana Goffredi
Here we describe novel forms of structural integration between endo- and episymbiotic microbes and an unusual new species of snail from hydrothermal vents in the Indian Ocean. The snail houses a dense population of γ-proteobacteria within the cells of its greatly enlarged esophageal gland. This tissue setting differs from that of all other vent mollusks, which harbor sulfur-oxidizing endosymbionts in their gills. The significantly reduced digestive tract, the isotopic signatures of the snail tissues, and the presence of internal bacteria suggest a dependence on chemoautotrophy for nutrition. Most notably, this snail is unique in having a dense coat of mineralized …