Video recordings of polynoid (Annelida) swimming and crawling

Annelids are predominantly found along the seafloor, but over time have colonised a vast diversity of habitats, such as the water column, where different modes of locomotion are necessary. Yet, little is known about their potential muscular adaptation to the continuously swimming required in the water column. The musculature and motility were examined for five scale worm species of Polynoidae (Aphroditiformia, Annelida) found in shallow waters, deep sea and caves that exhibit crawling, occasional swimming or continuous swimming, respectively. Their parapodial musculature was reconstructed using microCT and computational 3D analyses and the muscular functions interpreted from video recordings of their locomotion. Since most benthic annelids are able to swim for short distances using body and parapodial muscle movements, suitable musculature for swimming and a pelagic lifestyle is already present. Our results also indicate that rather than rearrangements or addition of muscles, a shift to...