Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, UNIMAS

Aquatic Resource Science and Management

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON
THE REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF PEANUT
WORM IN LUNDU AND KUCHING DIVISION,
SARAWAK

NOR AFILIA BINTI MUHAMMAD NOR 37589

Supervisor : DR SITI AKMAR KHADIJAH BINTI AB. RAHIM
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0

Introduction
Problem Statements
Objectives
Methodology
Results and Discussion
Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

Sipuncula nudus

Big S. nudus

Small S. nudus

Antillesoma antillarium

PROBLEM STATEMENTS

There is still lack of detail information of peanut worm in

Sarawak.
No systematic assessment has been carried out related to
reproductive biology of peanut worm in Sarawak.

Therefore, this study was conducted to provide more

information regarding the reproduction of peanut worm.

OBJECTIVES

To document the sexes of peanut worm.

To illustrate the reproductive biology of the peanut worm.
To observe the eggs morphology of peanut worm.
To monitor and document if any fertilisation occur along the
study period.

Methodology
U

Laut China Selatan

23 DECEMBER 2014
21 FEBRUARY 2015

1 cm = 5 km

22-26 NOVEMBER 2014

2-3 FEBRUARY 2015

Hard Substrate
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Figure 1: A map showing study sites located at Lundu and Kuching districts.

Sampling of peanut worm

& microalgae

Laboratory Work

Natural Release of
Gametes

Dissection
Process

Induced Fertilisation
(By heat shock and pressure)

Stripping of
Gonads

Propagation of Mixed
Species of Microalgae

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Sexes of Peanut Worm

Sexes

Male

Female

Damaged internal organs. The method used

to collect big size of S. nudus was referring
to the method
used
Big size
ofby
S. Cutler,
nudus 1994.
Small size of
S. nudus

0%

A.antillarium

0%

Indeterminate
sexes

N/A

43.2%
56.8%present for
Sperm only
specific months in a year
and it is released into the
water column
16.7%
56.8% (Cutler,
1994).
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Anatomy of the Reproductive System

Gonad Gametogenesis takes place
here.

Storage of mature gametes

and functions as gonoducts
during breeding season.

Nephridia

Big size of S. nudus

Gonad and nephridia could not be observed

under microscope.
Trunk Introvert

Retractor Muscle

Small size of S. nudus

This is due to :
-Ruptured organs during the dissection process.

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Nephridia could not be observed under

microscope.

Gonad
Proper dissection is required
for proper identification in
A. antillarium
determining the anatomy of peanut worm (Schulze et al., 2009).
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Eggs Morphology
Eggs of small S. nudus
-Pinkish-grey in colour
-Spherical in shape
- Big clusters

Eggs of A. antillarium
-Yellowish in colour
-Ovoid in shape
- Small clump
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Natural Release of Gametes and

Artificial Fertilisation
No natural release of gametes were observed during
the sampling period.

Thus, sampling dates on November -December 2014 and

February 2015 were considerably non-breeding season.

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 The artificial fertilisation was not successfully

conducted.
Unsuitable
artificial habitat
Unsuitable
methods used
Non-breeding
season

No experiments have been carried out to test

exogenous factors to the release of gametes
(Rice, 1994).
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Conclusion
The two important organs involved in the reproduction of peanut
worm are gonads and nephridia.
The eggs for small S. nudus are spherical in shape and pinkishgrey in colour whereas the eggs for A. antillarium are ovoid in
shape with yellowish colour.
No fertilisation was observed neither from the natural release of
the gametes nor the artificial fertilisation method.
Advance study and improved method need to be used in the
future.
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References
Cutler, E. B. (1994) The Sipuncula: Their systematics, Biology and Evolution.
Cornell University Press. p. 1-310.
Rice M. E. (1994) Comparative Observations of Gametes, Fertilisation and
Maturation in Sipunculans, Smithsonian Marine Station.
Schulze A. & Rice M. E (2009) Nephasoma pellucidum: A Model Species for
Sipunculan Development, Smithsonian Marine Station, 223-232.

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Q&A
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