Lugworms
Scientific name: Arenicolidae
Lugworms
Scientific name: Arenicolidae
Description
Members of the family Arenicolidae are often colloquially referred to as 'lugworms,' a nod not only to their burrowing lifestyle but to their peculiar habitat choice—marine sands and mud along temperate coasts. Contrary to the obscure imagery this name might conjure, lugworms play a vital role in marine ecology. They ingeniously ventilate the sea floor while feeding, which increases the soil turnover, benefiting other marine life. Furthermore, the blood of lugworms possesses extraordinary capabilities; it's packed with hemoglobin able to bind and transport oxygen even at low temperatures, a trait that has piqued medical research interest for potential applications in human medicine.
Species of Lugworms
Scientific Classification
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