Sabellaria, a polychaete host for the gastropods Noemiamea dolioliformis and Graphis albida

Abstract

Molluscan biogeographical studies around the British Isles and along the north coast of France have revealed a recurring association between the tube-building polychaetes Sabellaria spp. and two marine snails: the pyramidellid gastropod Noemiamea dolioliformis and the aclid, Graphis albida. Whilst few pyramidellids are considered to be host-specific, the evidence from these studies has shown that living animals of N. dolioliformis are only ever associated with Sabellaria spp. There is also a clear relationship between G. albida and Sabellaria spp. but as yet insufficient evidence that it associates only with these polychaetes.