Polychaete

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Polychaeta () is a paraphyletic class of generally marine annelid worms, commonly called bristle worms or polychaetes (). Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia which bear many chitinous bristles called chaetae, hence their name. More than 10,000 species have been described in this diverse and widespread class; in addition to inhabiting all of the world's oceans, polychaetes occur at all ocean depths, from planktonic species living near the surface, to a small undescribed species observed through a ROV at the deepest region in the Earth's oceans, Challenger Deep. In addition, many species live on the abyssal plains, coral reefs, parasitically, and a few within fresh water. Commonly encountered representatives include the lugworms, bloodworms, and species of Alitta such as the clam worm and sandworm or ragworm; these species inhabit shallow water marine environments and coastlines of subtropical and temperate regions around the world and may be used as fishing...

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