Samoan+Palolo+Worm

__**Common Name:**__ Samoan Palolo Worm

__**Scientific Name:**__ //Eunice viridis//

__**Phylum:**__ Annelida

__**Class:**__ Polychaeta

__**Location:**__ This species of Palolo worms are located in the tropical waters of the South Pacific, particularly in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and the other Polynesian islands.

__**Size:**__ up to 8 inches

__**Description of Habitat:**__ This worm lives in the shallow waters of coral reefs; burrowed in coral rubble in depths to 23 meters.

__**Living Requirements:**__ They must have coral reefs to live in and organic matter to consume.

__**Life Cycle:**__ The Samoan Palolo Worm has a unique way of reproducing. During what is called a spawn, the rear-tail end of the worm breaks off and rises to the surface of the water, releasing eggs and sperm into the water. All of the worms in a population do this at the same time, on a lunar schedule, and therefore the sperm and eggs are able to fertilize.

__**Male/Female Differences:**__ None.

__**Facts:**__ __﻿__ __**Human Impact:**__ The Samoan Worms are considered a delicacy in the South Pacific, and Natives harvest the worms in great amount when the worms rise to the surface. This has created over harvesting and local extinction. The Samoan Palolo Worm has been on the IUCN Red List of threatened Species since 2006.
 * 1) The spawning cycle of the Palolo Worm coincides with a very particular lunar calendar. They only rise to the ocean surface for a few hours at a time, beginning at 2am.
 * 2) In the South Pacific, the worms are eaten boiled, fried or raw, or can even be baked into a loaf with coconut milk and onions. They are also eaten on bread or crackers like caviar.
 * 3) The mating season of the Palolo Worms are so important to the inhabitants of the Bank Island, in order to sustain them that they include itin their Lunar Calendar.

__ Zookeeper's Sources: __ [] [] []