The Serpulidae are a
family of
sessile,
tube-buildingannelid worms in the class
Polychaeta. The members of this family differ from other
sabellid tube worms in that they have a specialized
operculum that blocks the entrance of their tubes when they withdraw into the tubes. In addition, serpulids secrete tubes of
calcium carbonate. Serpulids are the most important
biomineralizers among annelids. About 300 species in the family Serpulidae are known, all but one of which live in saline waters.[3] The earliest serpulids are known from the
Permian (
Wordian to
late Permian).[1]
The blood of most species of serpulid and sabellid worms contains the oxygen-binding pigment
chlorocruorin. This is used to transport oxygen to the tissues. It has an affinity for
carbon monoxide which is 570 times as strong as that of the haemoglobin found in human blood.[4]
Empty serpulid shells can sometimes be confused with the shells of a family of marine
gastropodmollusks, the
Vermetidae or worm snails. The most obvious difference is that serpulid shells are dull inside, whereas the molluscan vermetid shells are shiny inside.
^Cowles, David (2006).
"Serpula vermicularis Linnaeus, 1767". Invertebrates of the Salish Sea. Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory at Walla Walla University. Archived from
the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
Abbott, R. Tucker (1986). Seashells of North America. St. Martin's Press.
ten Hove, H.A.; van den Hurk, P. (1993). "A review of recent and fossil serpulid 'reefs'; actuopalaeontology and the 'Upper Malm' serpulid limestones in NW Germany". Geologie en Mijnbouw. 72 (1): 23–67.