° References of the most recent published diagnoses Pictures of Phoronis australis

Diagnosis

Last update: March 10, 2023   Extended specimens up to 200 mm, diameter 2-5 mm. Colour black, deep reddish or pink. Lophophore spiral with 2.5 to 5 coils on each side, up to 1,000 tentacles, 5-16 mm in length. Nephridia with two funnels (the anal larger than the oral), a single curved ascending branch, the nephridiopore opens on the nephridial ridge above or at the level of the anus. © Photo Melih E. Çinar - Caption Christian C. Emig - Click on to enlarge Two giant nerve fibres, one on the left (diameter: 5-13 µm) and one on the right (3-13 µm) occuring at the attachment of the lateral mesenteries to the body wall. Longitudinal muscle bundles of bushy type; the mean formula and general formula are respectively: 23 | 22 12 |  9 = 66  and  12-35 |13-27   4-19 | 5-19 [43-87]   (n= 100 individuals) Sexual reproduction: hermaphroditic; embryos brooded in two masses on a mucous cord secreted by the nidamental glands of B type (i.e. restricted to the floor of the lophophoral concavity with an extension along the coils of the lophophore on the inner surface of the tentacles); lophophoral organs small. Asexual reproduction by transverse fission. Phoronis australis is burrowing in tube-wall of Cerianthids, generally of the genus Cerianthus, from the intertidal zone to abut 40 m depth. The behaviour between both species has been studied by Emig et al. (1972); the association with the cerianthid has been defined as an inquilism based on their relationships : substrate, nutrition and protection. The number of phoronids in a tube-wall may reach 100, in general 20-50 individuals. Phoronis australis has been found vertically embedded in a sandy substrate in Strait of Lembeh (Sulawesi, Indonesia) by Godfried van Moorsel (ECOSUB) in 2011 - see photos 12-14: thus, the synonymies are confirmed. Recently, Temereva et al. (2016) have also recorded this species in a soft substrate in Vietnam. Phoronis australis: the distribution is represented below on the map. Type-locality: Port Jackson, Sydney (Australia) © Christian C. Emig Last update: January 16, 2018

Most recent published diagnoses Kim I. & Huys R., 2012. Sabelliphilidae (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) associated with the tube anemone Pachycerianthus maua (Carlgren) and the horseshoe worm Phoronis australis Haswell off New Caledonia. Systematic Parasitology, 83 (1), 51-64. Stampar S. N., Emig C. C., Morandini A. C., Kodja G., Balboni A. P. & F. Lang Da Silveira, 2010. Is there any risk in a symbiotic species associating with an endangered one? A case of a phoronid worm growing on a Ceriantheomorphe tube. Cah. Biol. Mar., 51 (2), 205-211. Templado J., Calvo M., Moreno D., Flores A., Conde F., Abad R., Rubio J., López-Fé C. M. & M. Ortiz, 2006. Flora y Fauna de la reserva marina y reserva de pesca de la Isla de Alborán. Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, Secretaría General de Pesca Marítima, Madrid, 269 pp. Emig C. C., Roldán C. & J. M. Viéitez, 2005. Filo Phoronida. In: Fauna Ibérica, vol. 27. Museo de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC Madrid, p. 19-54 & 180-186 & 223-224. Emig C. C., Çinar M. E. & Z. Ergen, 2003. Phoronida from the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea. Cahiers de Biologie Marine, 44 (2), 185-190. Wirtz P., 2003. New records of marine invertebrates from Saõ Tomé Island (Gulf of Guinea). J. Mar. Biol. Ass.U.K., 83 (4), 735-736. Emig C. C., Roldán & J. M. Viéitez, 2001. Phoronida. In: European Register of Marine Species, a check list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification, Costello M. J., Emblow C. & R. White (eds). Patrimoines Naturels, 50, 324-325. Wirtz P., 2001. New records of marine invertebrates from the Cape Verde Islands. Arquipélago. Life and Marine Sciences, 18A, 81-84.   To download an PDF reprint > click here. Emig C. C., Roldán C. & J. M. Viéitez, 2000. Foronídeos del litoral luso-español. Phoronida from the Luso-Iberian zone. Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural (Sec. Biol.), 96 (1-2), 77-83. Emig C. C., García Carrascosa A. M., Roldán C. & J. M. Viétiez, 1999. The occurrence in the Chafarinas Islands (S.E. Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean) of four species of Phoronida (Lophophorata) and their distribution in the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean areas. Cahiers de Biologie Marine, 40 (2), 129-134. References on Phoronis australis

Fig. 1. Phoronis australis  in about 10 m depth at Tarrafal, northwestern coast of Sao Tiago Island (Cape Verde Islands), the first record of Phoronida in these islands. Copyright Peter Wirtz Dr. Peter Wirtz, PO Box 103, P - 9125 Canico, Madeira (Portugal)... see also his books and photos Fig. 2. Phoronis australis  in Sesimbra near Lisbon (Portugal). Copyright Peter Wirtz Fig. 3. Phoronis australis  in Lagoa Azul (São Tomé Island), northwest coast, 8 m depth, on large black cerianthid. Copyright Peter Wirtz Fig. 4. Phoronis australis  in a (Pachy)Cerianthus at Madeira Island , in front of Caniço, at 25 m depth. Copyright Peter Wirtz Fig. 5a. Phoronis australis  in a Cerianthus, SW coast of Fulija islet, near Iz Is. (Croatia), at 20 m depth. Copyright Hrvoje Cizmek Fig. 5b. Phoronis australis  in a Cerianthus, near Trogir (Croatia), at 3 m depth. Copyright Hrvoje Cizmek Fig. 6. Phoronis australis in a tube of Cerianthus near Almeria (Spain). Copyright J. M. Vieitez ...and more...