Interaction with host
A deep depression is observed in the place of commensal attachment, but it disappears quickly when the commensal is removed. This suggests that the worm is not feeding on the epidermis of the sea cucumber. Also, large holothurians were more infested that small ones. According to Britayev and Zamyshliak (1996), out of 109 infested sea cucumbers, over 50% of the host housed two worms, 43.1% harboured only one speciement and only 5.5% harboured 3 worms.
From observations, when the polychaete is removed from the host, it is depressed. It soon recovered if there is any sea cucumber is nearby for them to attach to. However, if no host were given, it rolled into a ball and did not move. Also, the scales also fell off easily when the polychaete is disturbed. This shows that scaleworms are largely dependent on the host. |