lanice

Lanice is a genus of marine polychaete worms in the family Pectinariidae, commonly known as sand mason worms. The best-known species, Lanice conchilega, is widespread in the northeast Atlantic and adjacent seas, including the North Sea and surrounding coastal regions. These worms inhabit sandy or mixed sediments in shallow subtidal and intertidal zones.

A distinctive feature of Lanice is its tube-building behavior. Individuals construct conical tubes from sand grains bound with mucus and organic material, which they inhabit for protection. The tubes may extend above the sediment surface and serve as a stable microhabitat for other organisms. The worm itself has a segmented body and a well-developed prostomium bearing feeding appendages. Two long, feather-like radioles near the head function in respiration and feeding, capturing suspended particles that are transported to the mouth by the pharynx.

Ecologically, Lanice conchilega can form dense aggregations that create biogenic structures, or reefs, in soft sediments. These structures influence local hydrodynamics, sediment stabilization, and nutrient cycling, and they provide habitat for a variety of invertebrates and juvenile fish, contributing to regional biodiversity and community dynamics.

Life cycle and reproduction are sexual, with separate sexes producing free-swimming larvae. Larval development proceeds through trochophore and subsequent stages before settled juveniles appear. Population dynamics are influenced by factors such as sediment quality, disturbance, and pollution, making Lanice a useful indicator species in marine ecological assessments.

In research and environmental monitoring, Lanice serves as a model for studying sediment interactions, habitat engineering by organisms, and the responses of benthic communities to anthropogenic stressors.