Polynoidae - Scale Worms

Polynoids are a family of marine polychaete worms. They are also known as scale worms because of the elytra (scales) on their upper surfaces.

The worm embroidered here a Peinaleopolynoe orphanae sp. nov. While not one of the worms I studied I couldn’t resist making an embroidery of it. It was discovered next to bacterial mats beside hydrothermal vents in the deep Pacific Ocean. (See Link 1 below)

Peinaleopolynoe worms are sometimes known as Elvis worms because of their glittery suits.

The worms I studied are also from the deep Pacific Ocean, many living on or near hydrothermal vents or the remains of dead whales.

The images below are from a recently published paper (See Link 2 below) describing a newly named species (Macellicephala irisae sp. nov.) of polynoid worm we discovered living near the remains of a dead whale in the Santa Catalina Basin off the coast of California. In these images the scales are missing.

(A) Macellicephala irisae sp. nov. (B) Macellicephala irisae sp. nov. with eggs visible. (C) Right scapula of the whale in Santa Catalina Basin with associated fauna (D) Detail of cladorhizid sponge showing two specimens of Macellicephala irisae sp. nov. crawling over the sponge.

If you would like to find out more about these worms here are some links:

Link 1: https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S1313298920004188

Link 2: Taxonomy 2026, 6(2), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy6020030