Summary

Loimia sp. is a polychaetegenus of the Terebellidae family which is characterized by free living worms,mainly tubedwelling often associated with rocks, soft sediments or algal beds.They usually occur in the intertidal zone but also in higher depths. The Terebellidae family are characterized as selective deposit feeders, using their multiple grooved palps, which are easily seen extending out on the substrate, terebellids sort organic material from the sediment. Polychaetes species play a key role in the functioning of benthic communities as being responsible of recycling and reworking marine sediments. The Terebellida species often represent a vital element of the benthic habitat assemblages in terms of biomass, and also are a good indicator of polychaete species richness in studies of marine benthic communities. This green spaghetti worm described in this project probably was not yet formally described, therefore this project will attain only the family Terebellidae and the genus Loimia.