We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Osedax: bone-eating marine worms with dwarf males.
- Authors
Rouse, G W; Goffredi, S K; Vrijenhoek, R C
- 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 10(5) to 10(6) adult females.
- Publication
Science (New York, N.Y.), 2004, Vol 305, Issue 5684, p668
- ISSN
1095-9203
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1126/science.1098650