A living guide to Kauaʻi

Worms & Other Phyla of Kauaʻi

Explore the island’s native and introduced species, habitats, watersheds and conservation work. Each record connects its description, images and sources with the interactive Atlas.

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  Leodice australis

  Eunice australis

  Leodice australis is a marine eunicid jaw worm originally described from New Zealand. The Kauaʻi source records use the older name Eunice australis. The head has two rounded lobes and five sensory appendages, interpreted in modern terminolo

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  Eunice filamentosa

  Eunice filamentosa

  Eunice filamentosa is retained here as the name reported in the Kauaʻi source, with an important qualification from later taxonomy. It is a marine jaw worm in Eunicidae, with three antennae, two palps and a separate pair of peristomial cirr

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  Hydroides dirampha

  Hydroides dirampha

  Hydroides dirampha is a marine bristleworm that secretes a white calcareous tube on a hard surface. The living animal is slender and segmented, with a paired crown of finely feathered radioles at its front. A stalk beside that crown carries

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  Spirobranchus kraussii

  Pomatoleios kraussii

  Pomatoleios kraussii has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Appendix A printed p. 90 and the source evidence is dated 2002. This is a historical or source-bounded occurrence record rather th

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  Salmacina dysteri

  Salmacina dysteri

  Salmacina dysteri has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Appendix A printed p. 90 and the source evidence is dated 2002. This is a historical or source-bounded occurrence record rather than

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  Loimia medusa

  Loimia medusa

  The Kauaʻi harbor and nearby reef survey compilation lists Loimia medusa in Appendix A, printed page 92, of Bishop Museum Technical Report 29a. The Atlas preserves that reported name and its 2002 survey or compiled historical context. The e

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  Nicolea gracilibranchis

  Nicolea gracilibranchis

  Nicolea gracilibranchis has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Appendix A printed p. 92 and the source evidence is dated 2002. This is a historical or source-bounded occurrence record rather

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  Thelepus setosus

  Thelepus setosus

  Thelepus setosus has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Appendix A printed p. 92 and the source evidence is dated 2002. This is a historical or source-bounded occurrence record rather than a

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  Dipodarctus borrori

  Dipodarctus borrori

  Dipodarctus borrori is a microscopic marine tardigrade described from beach sand at Anahola Bay, Kauaʻi, by Pollock in 1995. It lives among sand grains in a marine interstitial microhabitat. The body carries four pairs of short legs, and th

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  Dipodarctus anaholiensis

  Dipodarctus anaholiensis

  Dipodarctus anaholiensis is a microscopic marine tardigrade described from Anahola Bay, Kauaʻi, in 1995. It inhabits the seawater-filled spaces between beach-sand grains. Like other tardigrades, its compact body has four pairs of legs. The

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  Echiniscus cavagnaroi

  Echiniscus cavagnaroi

  Echiniscus cavagnaroi is a microscopic terrestrial tardigrade associated with mosses and lichens. Its four pairs of short legs end in hooked claws, and its back carries a series of hardened cuticular plates. Round pores in those plates and

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  Minibiotus furcatus

  Minibiotus furcatus

  Minibiotus furcatus is preserved as reported in Meyer’s 2015 Oceania account, with the Kauaʻi source evidence dated 2011 and based on moss/lichen collection and microscopy. This is a historical source record. The plate does not establish cu

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  Minibiotus intermedius

  Minibiotus intermedius

  Minibiotus intermedius is a microscopic tardigrade with a pale body, large eyes, a smooth poreless cuticle and four pairs of short legs. The neotype diagnosis describes ten papulae around the mouth and paired branched claws with accessory p

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  Didemnum candidum

  Didemnum candidum

  Didemnum candidum is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Wave 01 preserves the taxon concept exactly as reported. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open; occurrence is not represented as a 2026 observation.

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  Ascidia sydneiensis

  Ascidia sydneiensis

  Ascidia sydneiensis is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Wave 01 preserves the taxon concept exactly as reported. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open; occurrence is not represented as a 2026 observation.

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  Phallusia nigra

  Phallusia nigra

  Phallusia nigra is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Wave 01 preserves the taxon concept exactly as reported. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open; occurrence is not represented as a 2026 observation.

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  Herdmania pallida

  Herdmania pallida

  Herdmania pallida is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Wave 01 preserves the taxon concept exactly as reported. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open; occurrence is not represented as a 2026 observation.

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  Microcosmus exasperatus

  Microcosmus exasperatus

  Microcosmus exasperatus is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Wave 01 preserves the taxon concept exactly as reported. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open; occurrence is not represented as a 2026 observation.

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  Cnemidocarpa irene

  Cnemidocarpa irene

  Cnemidocarpa irene is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Wave 01 preserves the taxon concept exactly as reported. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open; occurrence is not represented as a 2026 observation.

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  Eusynstyela hartmeyeri

  Eusynstyela hartmeyeri

  Eusynstyela hartmeyeri is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Wave 01 preserves the taxon concept exactly as reported. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open; occurrence is not represented as a 2026 observation.

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  Polyandrocarpa anguinea

  Polyandrocarpa sagamiensis

  Polyandrocarpa anguinea is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Wave 01 preserves the taxon concept exactly as reported. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open; occurrence is not represented as a 2026 observation.

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  Polycarpa aurita

  Polycarpa aurita

  Polycarpa aurita is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Wave 01 preserves the taxon concept exactly as reported. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open; occurrence is not represented as a 2026 observation.

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  Pseudoceros dimidiatus

  Pseudoceros dimidiatus

  Pseudoceros dimidiatus has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Appendix B pp. 60–81 (PDF pp. 68–89) and the source evidence is dated 2002-2003. This is a historical or source-bounded occurren

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  Eurythoe complanata

  Eurythoe complanata

  Eurythoe complanata is the name used in the Kauaʻi reef survey for an elongated fireworm in Amphinomidae. Its flattened, segmented body carries conspicuous white bristle bundles along both sides. Small, tree-like gills begin near the front

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  Sabellastarte spectabilis

  Sabellastarte spectabilis

  Sabellastarte spectabilis is a large tube-dwelling feather-duster worm documented in the cited Kauaʻi nearshore survey sources from 2002–2003. This records historical occurrence and does not establish present abundance or persistence. Its

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  Spirobranchus giganteus corniculatus

  Spirobranchus giganteus corniculatus

  Serpulids are marine annelids with a crown of pinnate feeding radioles and a hard calcareous tube. Many bear an operculum, a modified radiole that closes the opening when the worm retracts. Hydroides and Spirobranchus have diagnostic opercu

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  Disporella violacea

  Disporella violacea

  Disporella violacea is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Recorded at a Kauaʻi rapid-assessment station in Appendix B. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open where needed.

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  Bugula neritina

  Bugula neritina

  Bugula neritina is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. USGS NAS lists an established Kauaʻi record in 2001; source guidebook describes it as widespread in main Hawaiian Islands. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open where need

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  Amathia distans

  Amathia distans

  Amathia distans is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. USGS NAS lists an established Kauaʻi record in 2001. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open where needed.

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  Penetrantia operculata

  Penetrantia operculata

  Penetrantia operculata is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Type locality is Hāʻena Bay, Kauaʻi; historical type material collected in 1967. Current accepted-name reconciliation remains open where needed.

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  Scoletoma tetraura

  Lumbrineris tetraura

  Scoletoma tetraura is a lumbrinerid annelid retained from the 2002 Kauaʻi estuary and bay monitoring record under its older combination Lumbrineris tetraura. EPA Table 3.3-1 provides the local occurrence context. The accepted combination re

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  Westheidesyllis heterocirrata

  Pionosyllis heterocirrata

  Pionosyllis heterocirrata has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Table 3.3-1 and the source evidence is dated 2002. This is a historical or source-bounded occurrence record rather than a cla

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  Pygospio muscularis

  Pygospio muscularis

  Pygospio muscularis is a small spionid worm described from Hawaiian shallow-water sand and coral-rubble habitats by Linda A. Ward in 1981. The cited EPA monitoring source documents a Kauaʻi record from 2002; current abundance and persistenc

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  Spio blakei

  Spio blakei

  Spio blakei has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Table 3.3-1 and the source evidence is dated 2002. This is a historical or source-bounded occurrence record rather than a claim about prese

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  Baseodiscus edmondsoni

  Baseodiscus edmondsoni

  Baseodiscus edmondsoni has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to pp. 101–106 and the source evidence is dated historical pre-1947. This is a historical or source-bounded occurrence record rathe

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  Schyzocotyle acheilognathi

  Schyzocotyle acheilognathi

  Schyzocotyle acheilognathi has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Specimen 260220 and the source evidence is dated 1993. This is a historical or source-bounded occurrence record rather than

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  Caenorhabditis kamaaina

  Caenorhabditis kamaaina

  Caenorhabditis kamaaina has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to C. kamaaina species diagnosis and the source evidence is dated pre-2014. This is a historical or source-bounded occurrence reco

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  Heterorhabditis indica

  Heterorhabditis indica

  Heterorhabditis indica has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Table 1 and the source evidence is dated pre-2015. This is a historical or source-bounded occurrence record rather than a claim

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  Pherecardia striata

  Pherecardia striata

  Pherecardia striata is an amphinomid bristleworm documented in the cited historical Kauaʻi nearshore compilation. This source-bounded record does not establish present abundance or distribution. The 2025 revision recognizes Pherecardia str

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  Phyllochaetopterus verrilli

  Phyllochaetopterus verrilli

  Phyllochaetopterus verrilli has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Appendix A printed p. 83 and the source evidence is dated historical compilation / 2002 present-study where applicable. Thi

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  Dodecaceria laddi

  Dodecaceria laddi

  Dodecaceria laddi is a tiny cirratulid bristle worm associated with calcareous hard substrates. Magalhães and Bailey-Brock’s 2013 redescription examined material from Hawaiʻi and other Pacific islands. The specimens were only 2.5–7 millimet

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  Eunice vittata

  Eunice vittata

  Eunice vittata is a marine jaw worm originally described from the Mediterranean. The name remains in the Kauaʻi inventory because it appears in the island survey compilation, but widespread use of that name has not always referred to the sa

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  Lysidice ninetta

  Lysidice ninetta

  Lysidice ninetta is retained from Appendix A, printed page 85, of the Bishop Museum’s 2004 harbor and nearby reef survey. The present-study row marks Kauaʻi stations Ka2 and Ka3, and the 1996 DeFelice compilation also marks Ka3. This docume

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  Lysidice unicornis

  Nematonereis unicornis

  Lysidice unicornis is retained from the Bishop Museum’s 2004 harbor and nearby reef census. Appendix A, printed page 85, reports Nematonereis unicornis Schmarda, 1861 in all four Kauaʻi present-study columns, Ka1–Ka4; the 1996 DeFelice comp

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  Palola siciliensis

  Palola siciliensis

  Palola siciliensis has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Appendix A printed p. 85 and the source evidence is dated historical compilation / 2002 present-study where applicable. This is a hi

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  Lumbrineris dentata

  Lumbrineris dentata

  Lumbrineris dentata is retained from the Kauaʻi occurrence compilation in Appendix A, printed page 86, of Bishop Museum Technical Report 29a. The Atlas preserves the reported species name and the source’s historical or 2002 survey context.

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  Ceratonereis tentaculata

  Ceratonereis tentaculata

  Ceratonereis tentaculata is a small marine bristle worm in the family Nereididae. Its segmented body carries paired parapodia, the lateral structures that bear bristles. The type redescription identifies two antennae, shorter palps, four pr

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  Branchiomma nigromaculatum

  Branchiomma nigromaculata

  Branchiomma nigromaculatum is a marine fan worm in the family Sabellidae. The Atlas retains the historical source spelling Branchiomma nigromaculata as an alias. Its most conspicuous structure is a crown of feather-like radioles at the fron

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  Notaulax phaeotaenia

  Hypsicomus phaeotaenia

  Notaulax phaeotaenia is a sabellid fan worm whose conspicuous feeding crown sits on an elongated basal support above a slender segmented body. The older name Hypsicomus phaeotaenia appears in the Kauaʻi harbor and nearby reef compilation, A

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  Serpula vermicularis

  Serpula vermicularis

  Serpula vermicularis has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Appendix A printed p. 91 and the source evidence is dated historical compilation / 2002 present-study where applicable. This is a

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  Vermiliopsis multiannulata

  Vermiliopsis torquata

  Vermiliopsis multiannulata is a marine serpulid tube worm. The Kauaʻi source lists it under the historical name Vermiliopsis torquata, which the World Polychaeta Database now accepts as V. multiannulata. The Hawaiian account describes a sma

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  Neodexiospira foraminosa

  Neodexiospira foraminosa

  Neodexiospira foraminosa has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Appendix A printed p. 91 and the source evidence is dated historical compilation / 2002 present-study where applicable. This i

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  Neodexiospira alveolata

  Neodexiospira nipponica

  Neodexiospira alveolata is represented on Kauaʻi by the source name Neodexiospira nipponica Okuda, 1934 in Coles and colleagues’ 2004 marine survey report. Appendix A, printed page 91, marks its present-study occurrence at Ka4, rather than

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  Virididentula dentata

  Bugula dentata

  Virididentula dentata is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Census-completion pass. The source taxon concept is preserved as reported. Qualified, unidentified, juvenile, family-level, and 'sp.' concepts are not promoted to an invented sp

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  Bugula robusta

  Bugula robusta

  Bugula robusta is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Census-completion pass. The source taxon concept is preserved as reported. Qualified, unidentified, juvenile, family-level, and 'sp.' concepts are not promoted to an invented species i

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  Caulibugula dendrograpta

  Caulibugula dendrograpta

  Caulibugula dendrograpta is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Census-completion pass. The source taxon concept is preserved as reported. Qualified, unidentified, juvenile, family-level, and 'sp.' concepts are not promoted to an invented

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  Reteporellina denticulata

  Reteporellina denticulata

  Reteporellina denticulata is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Census-completion pass. The source taxon concept is preserved as reported. Qualified, unidentified, juvenile, family-level, and 'sp.' concepts are not promoted to an invente

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  Amathia verticillata

  Zoobotryon verticillatum

  Amathia verticillata is documented in a Kauaʻi source record. Census-completion pass. The source taxon concept is preserved as reported. Qualified, unidentified, juvenile, family-level, and 'sp.' concepts are not promoted to an invented spe

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  Frenulina sanguinolenta

  Frenulina sanguinolenta

  Frenulina sanguinolenta has a documented Kauaʻi occurrence in the cited scientific record. The record is tied to Appendix A printed p. 149 and the source evidence is dated historical compilation / 2002 present-study where applicable. This i

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  Spheciospongia vagabunda

  Spheciospongia vagabunda

  Spheciospongia vagabunda is a substantial reef sponge placed in the family Clionaidae. Published field references document rounded or irregularly lobed growths with visible water outlets, rather than one fixed outline. Its surface and silho