Coryphellidae

Common Names

Members of the Coryphellidae family are commonly referred to as "coryphelids" or "proseriate flatworms."

Characteristics

Coryphellids exhibit several distinctive characteristics:

• Elongated, slender body: Coryphellids have a streamlined body shape that is typically long and narrow, enabling them to move efficiently through the water.
• Single, anterior statocyst: The presence of a single statocyst, a fluid-filled sac containing a calcium carbonate particle (statolith), is a key characteristic that distinguishes Coryphellidae from other flatworm families. The statocyst allows the worm to sense gravity and maintain its orientation.
• Simple nervous system: Coryphellids have a relatively simple nervous system compared to more complex flatworms. They possess a brain located in the anterior part of the body and a network of nerves that extend throughout the body.
• Lack of eyes: Coryphellids lack well-developed eyes and rely on other sensory mechanisms, such as touch and chemoreception, to navigate their surroundings.
• Microscopic size: Most coryphellids are quite small, typically measuring less than a centimeter in length.

Environments

Coryphellids are predominantly found in coastal marine environments, particularly:

• Intertidal zones: These are areas that are exposed to the air during low tide and submerged during high tide, providing a suitable habitat for many coryphellids.
• Seagrass beds: Seagrass meadows provide a rich source of food and shelter for coryphellids, which often live among the blades of seagrass.
• Shallow water: Coryphellids can also be found in shallow water environments, where they are able to find food and avoid predators.

References

For further information on Coryphellidae, please refer to the following resources:

• WoRMS: World Register of Marine Species
• PubMed: National Library of Medicine
• ResearchGate: A Network for Scientists