Distribution

International

Nereis can be found worldwide from the water of the Arctic to tropical seas. It can withstand both extreme cold and extreme hot temperatures as well as a range of salinities and ecological environments (Beesley et al., 2000).


National

This species also has a wide environmental range in Australia. The Atlas of Living Australia, which rely on public sightings and reports of this organism suggest that this genera can be found around a significant portion of Australia’s coastline (for more information see “Biogeographical Distribution”).


Local - "Polychaete Point"

Redcliffe is a coastal town located 42km north of Brisbane, Queensland. Approximately 600m south of the Redcliffe jetty lies a rocky intertidal outcrop approximately 200m in length and 100m width. Surrounded by sandy flats this isolated rocky patch lies exposed at low tide. Igneous rock boulders and tidal pools scatter the landscape providing thousands upon thousands of unique microhabitats.

    
        

Looking at this site at high- and even at low tide it’s difficult to picture the diversity and abundance of organisms along the shore. The presence of the polycheate Pereinereis is even more difficult to imagine. The stark contrast of this animal against the colour of the rock would suggest that a stroll along the shore should reveal hundreds of these critters; unfortunately this is not the case. These burrowing, nocturnal and typically shy organisms are anything but easy to find, however, with careful examination they can be found in their hundreds. In a small rock that could easily lie in the palm of your hand could lie one of these worms up to 15cm in length. Frequently whilst breaking up rock boulders these large worms appear strung between the two sections. Carefully examining and strategically spitting the rock further it is possible to find the entry and exit to these tiny burrows. These organisms can be difficult to extract from the rock due to the constricted space around them, their comparitively large size and their ability to expand segments of their body via muscular contraction. It can be heart-breaking after hours of splitting boulders with a sore back and sore knees to accidently damage a large worm you've worked so tirelessly to find. With this species of polychaete, as with other cryptic species, the key to observation and collection is patience.

These worms can be found all along the intertidal shoreline from the high- to the low intertidal zone, in a multitude of different rock types, in varying abundances and in a variety of sizes. Unlikely as it may seem there is no rock too big or small for this organism to call home.